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A review by javalenciaph
The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh by KJ Charles
5.0
Read the full review on Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous.
The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh is the prequel novella in the Society of Gentlemen series from author K.J. Charles and was originally published as part of the multi-authored Another Place in Time series. Both Gabriel Ashleigh and Francis Webster were introduced in the first book, A Fashionable Indulgence, which I absolutely adored, and because their presence there was markedly memorable, finally knowing how these two got together was a joy. Their main connection is Ash's older brother, who, like Francis, is six years older than Ash, but with Francis's relationship with said brother adversarial at best, Ash and Francis weren't exactly bosom buddies and Ash himself fell prey to putting his foot in his mouth while intoxicated.
This novella may not detail when Francis and Ash first met or every encounter they had thereafter, but what it does, and it does it rather well, is it gives readers pertinent information, enough that we know how enough of their history to realize that what happens to them is an undeniable inevitability. Novellas are difficult to pull off, mainly because of the limits on length, but K.J. Charles proves you can indeed create a story and leave a reader like me more than satisfied and squeeing in delight like the that fangirl I am. The Society of Gentlemen series has ruined me for all other Regency series, whether M/M or otherwise, and The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh gives you a delicious taste of just how addictive a series it is. Five-plus stars! ♥
The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh is the prequel novella in the Society of Gentlemen series from author K.J. Charles and was originally published as part of the multi-authored Another Place in Time series. Both Gabriel Ashleigh and Francis Webster were introduced in the first book, A Fashionable Indulgence, which I absolutely adored, and because their presence there was markedly memorable, finally knowing how these two got together was a joy. Their main connection is Ash's older brother, who, like Francis, is six years older than Ash, but with Francis's relationship with said brother adversarial at best, Ash and Francis weren't exactly bosom buddies and Ash himself fell prey to putting his foot in his mouth while intoxicated.
This novella may not detail when Francis and Ash first met or every encounter they had thereafter, but what it does, and it does it rather well, is it gives readers pertinent information, enough that we know how enough of their history to realize that what happens to them is an undeniable inevitability. Novellas are difficult to pull off, mainly because of the limits on length, but K.J. Charles proves you can indeed create a story and leave a reader like me more than satisfied and squeeing in delight like the that fangirl I am. The Society of Gentlemen series has ruined me for all other Regency series, whether M/M or otherwise, and The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh gives you a delicious taste of just how addictive a series it is. Five-plus stars! ♥