Reviews with content warning for Sexual harassment - The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen

An open-door, LGBTQ, Regency romance between a new baronet and the leader of a smuggling operation. High-stakes adventure, high-heat encounters, family support and family betrayal, lovely respectful communication (after requisite miscommunication), marshland entomology, Kentish dialect lessons, thoughtful discussions of the philosophies vs realities of war policies... As always, KJ Charles delivers an emotionally resonate, well-researched, entertaining historical with great diversity rep.

Content Warnings

tiffany_sostar's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious 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

4.75

I really enjoyed this! I found the first chapter a little abrupt, and almost DNF’d it, but I’m so glad I didn’t. The character development was lovely - watching Gareth and Joss both make concerted (and successful) efforts to do better, to be more open, to take each other’s needs into account. So nice to read. I also appreciated the casual mention of trans folks early in the book (there are no openly trans folks among the characters, but a comment from a narrator makes it clear that trans folks exist in this world and the narrator treats it as a casual truth). I also really liked the politics, and how war is discussed. Very enjoyable.

I did not love the sexual violence directed at women in the book.

Content Warnings

omgvalkyrie's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

I’m so upset with myself for taking so long to read the ARC I was provided (Thank you NetGalley & Sourcebooks Casablanca!), mainly because I am absolutely in love with The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen.

I adored the story of Joss Doomsday & Gareth Inglis on the remote Romney Marsh! Sir Gareth is not only learning what it means to run an estate, but also must provide for his previously unknown family, all while living in an area swarming with a prominent smuggling clan. A clan that just happens to be led by his previous lover, Joss Doomsday. Despite the two being from extremely different backgrounds they experience parallels in their journey, like being thrust to the head of the family quite suddenly and navigating who they can be vs what they assume they should be. They both just want someone who is theirs and their’s alone. Most importantly, they communicate with one another!!!!

I do wish we could have had just a little bit more of the romance plotline. I felt like it was overshadowed at times by the smuggling drama/mystery. And they had such a sweet and lovely romance budding despite the fact it was set against all sorts of deceit and violence.

This was my first KJ Charles and certainly not my last (I’ve already got the next book on pre-order!), and I loved how Charles is able to intertwine the social and political issues of the time (some even ringing true today!) into the story and posed brilliant questions for not only the characters to ponder over but us as the readers too!

-M/M Historical Romance

-Opposites Attract

-Forbidden Romance: Gentleman & his Rogue!

-Found Family

-Mafia-esque..ish (Squint your eyes, you’ll see it!!!)

-"Touch him and you die.”

London & Kent, Gareth & Joss, whatever you decide to call them, are perfection together. They each inspire each to think and to challenge what’s been put in front of them and just want to be on the same side. Their own. They are two sides of a coin and I will forever cherish it.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.

Content Warnings

More...