Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles

5 reviews

onefineelephant's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

10/10. I accidentally read the second book (about Luke) first before reading this one but I'm not necessarily mad at the order since they are fairly standalone books. I do think it was an interesting perspective to have so much knowledge of Luke when he was not so much in this book until the end. Because I read the other book first, I more or less knew what was going to happen in this one but somehow I was still so surprised by the events. There is something about this author's writing style that makes me think about the characters and plot non-stop and yet also not have any idea where the story is going (in a good way). I love the genuine connection but also faults between Joss and Gareth. Their love is so wonderful, especially set in this time period. I also enjoyed the supporting characters quite a bit including the other Doomsdays and Gareth's new family. Overall, I highly recommend this book as well as the second. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Medical content, and Abandonment

There is potential incest because a cousin implies to want to court his cousin but nothing actually happens. Also, at one point there is a threat of sexual assault/rape of a woman but this threat is not made to the woman and does not actually happen.

yuri_rum_raisin's review

adventurous dark emotional lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Outing

the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A fun read by one of my favourite authors! The story telling of a KJ Charles story is always sublime and the characters are deeply likeable (even Gareth, who starts off being hard to enjoy and then becomes kind of precious as the book goes on). 

The relationship between Joss and Gareth felt a little rushed to me, and the chemistry a little lacking at parts. This being said, I still really enjoyed the read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Sexism, Stalking, and Outing

Minor: Racism

jjjreads's review against another edition

emotional funny informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

erynlasbelin's review

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

Gareth Inglis, unwanted child turned dismissed law clerk, unexpectedly inherits his absent father's title and country estate. Tench House is situated in Romney Marsh, a remote wetland not-so-secretly controlled by smuggling gangs. Much to Gareth's surprise, his local area is under the control of the Doomsday clan, led by none other than his one-time lover.

Joss Doomsday is confident, charming, and eminently reasonable - and on the Marsh, his word is as good as law. But he is eager to avoid Gareth, who once spurned him in a fit of melancholy. At least until Gareth unwittingly puts his sister's freedom at stake. As the dust of this treacherous first encounter settles and the two form an unlikely partnership, peril encroaches on them from all sides.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is an adventurous Regency romance populated by swashbuckling smugglers as well as prickly high society. It is also somewhat of a naturalist's book; Gareth's explorations out on the Marsh taught me a surprising amount about the great diving beetle. There are stolen fortunes, dangerous missions under cover of night, a lady scandalously wearing trousers, and murders to boot. But the real heart of the book lies in healing trauma and finding love (in partners as well as family). Gareth and Joss are shaped by their experiences, by their loved ones, and by their relationship to one another, and the end of the book finds them better situated for happiness than they've ever been before.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Outing, and Abandonment

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism

Minor: Confinement, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail