I really enjoyed this Regency historical romance from K. J. Charles. Gareth and Joss engage in an entertaining relationship and the side plots in smuggling were entirely enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing an advance Audiobook copy for reveiw.

To say that I am a KJ Charles fan is massive understatement and my excitement for her new book was through the roof, so much so that I'd already preordered the book before being approved for the audiobook.
Let me say that this is one of my new absolute favourite of hers.

The novel follows two men, one a new heir to a crumbling manor in Romney Marsh, the other the leader of a family of smugglers also living in that same marsh as they oscillate around each other and their growing attraction.

As a fan of the prickly hero archetype I was very taken with the uptight Gareth Inglis who is constantly overlooked, forgotten and treated poorly by people who are meant to care for him. Charles writes him with such empathy that even when he has his emotional protection shields up, we still care for him and his plight. Seeing upstanding criminal, Joss Doomsday, begin to chip away at Gareth's defenses is both rewarding and sweet, and seeing these men begin trusting each other is extremely satisfying.

As a romance it is lovely, but the story itself is also addictive and interesting and the supporting characters are fully fleshed out and complex. The world Charles created here is captivating.

Martyn Swain's narration on the audiobook is brilliant. His use of accent and dialect is genius and accurately represents character and place.

I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel that is set to follow little Luke Doomsday, a child in this novel, as a grown man. The seeds are sown wonderfully for his storyline and potential character arc.

This is my first book by KJ Charles and it definitely will not be the last. It's billed as a historical M/M romance, but it is so much more.

The action takes place in England in 1810, first, briefly, in London, and then in Kent for most of the story - specifically in area area of Kent called Romney Marsh. It’s a story that involves an extended family of smugglers (actually two extended families of smugglers), a sudden unexpected inheritance and a mystery. The characters were terrific individuals, not stereotypes, from Gareth to Joss to Ma Doomsday to Nate Sweetwater and on and on.

Beyond the wonderful romance between an aristocrat and a smuggler, I learned a ton about an area of Kent, England called the Romney Marsh. You could say that I fell down a rabbit hole, looking up information about it while reading this book!

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Martyn Swain. It was a treat to hear all the different English accents over the course of the book. Warning: there are some very graphic steamy encounters, so if you’re listening to the audiobook, I advise using headphones!

I was excited to find out that KJ Charles is planning a second book featuring some of these wonderful Romney Marsh characters!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook - although I was a bit late to both. All opinions are my own.

Utterly charming.

When Gareth's estranged father passed away suddely, he discovers to his surprise that he is to inherit his father's title or Baronet, but also all his holdings and lands on the marshes of Dimchurch. An outsider with his half sister and father former mistress, he must struggle to find a way to build a family in the home of the father who could never be bothered with him.

But the marsh is also home to gangs of smugglers, including the Doomsday clan. Josiah Doomsday is struggling to wrangle hot headed members of his family and lead, while wanting just a bit of space to himself.

I'm not generally a huge fan of historical fiction, but Charles does a delightful job of weaving in the time period seamlessly and giving the book a truly timeless feel. Add in a rival band of smugglers, aggrieved family members and a mystery, and this book was an absolute delight from start to finish.

Okay I wanna start by saying I was really looking forward to reading this. But this one just fell flat for me.

I anticipated that this installment in the series would be whimsical and a little fantastical like the others. However, my first thought is that this starts off quite hot and heavy....and continues as such. Seriously, there is so. Much. Sex. It goes on to add some whimsey, fun relationship dynamics and more.

I LOVE the doomsdays and smuggler dynamics. I love the queer love on historical context! I Also am so curious about the geographical location of this--I don't know if this is the goal, but I want to know more about the marsh!! I like the boys, the siblings and the setting most of all!

Overall, I liked this one, but have to say if you're going to read it, skip the audiobook.
Some of the accents in the audiobook are super cringey.

I liked this book, but I'm not sure I totally loved it. I couldn't help but feel like something was missing the whole time. I think I was also comparing it too much to "Something Fabulous" by Alexis Hall and while there are similarities, the writing styles and overarching stories are completely different. But that's also on me and I'm sure others won't see it that way. I didn't dislike this book, but I don't know if I'll keep reading the others in the series. Overall, I think people will enjoy this as it has a bit of everything - romance, family drama, and more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook.

I am at a loss as to how to rate this book as the text is lovely and a solid KJ Charles. It starts with a bang and continues to be fun. I enjoy plot with my romance and this delivers.

However, I have no idea what is going on with the audio. Had this not been a book by an author I really enjoy and whose catalog includes ten books in my reread as needed list, I would not have finished listening to the audiobook. I typically listen at a 1.25 or 1.35 rate. In this case, there were so many random pauses between words I sped it up to 1.5. This helped some, but I kept getting pulled out of the story to wonder what the heck is going on. How was this produced? Why did the editor think this was good? My feeling is that the narrator (who actually does have good intonations and distinct voices for the characters) was given alist of things to read in different voices and it was then all spliced together. Or everyone involved in this production has a sense of pace alien to me.

Great book, abysmal audiobook.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is a captivating historical romance by KJ Charles. Gareth Inglis is a shabby clerk in London who longs for connection and love. When he meets a charming stranger, he believes he's found it, but things go wrong, and he's left alone once again. However, his life changes drastically when his estranged father dies, leaving him a grand house on the remote Romney Marsh and a family he never knew existed.

But the Marsh is not a safe place, and it's notorious for ruthless gangs of smugglers. One of them is Joss Doomsday, Gareth's old lover, who now runs the smuggling clan. When Gareth agrees to testify against Joss's sister, Joss acts fast to stop him. But despite the danger, the two men can't stay away from each other and soon find themselves wanting to be together.

The novel's setting is atmospheric, and the plot is full of twists and turns that keep the reader hooked. The author masterfully weaves together the themes of romance, danger, and family drama. The chemistry between the two main characters, Gareth and Joss, is electric, and their relationship is complex, emotional, and passionate.

KJ Charles's writing is sharp, witty, and engaging, and she brings the historical setting to life with vivid descriptions of the Marsh and its inhabitants. The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is a must-read for fans of historical romance and those who love a thrilling adventure with a touch of danger and intrigue.

Listen if you like:
🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ Stories
🏰 Historical Romance
🗡️ Action
📖 Side Characters

This one has absolutely wonderful character development! It starts out HOT with a steamy scene but then turns to so much more as we get to see more of our two MMC’s and their growth and journeys together and separately.

This author does side characters so well as everyone had a purpose and place in the story, even the villain that was a bit over the top.

The story was also so well wrapped up that I couldn’t have asked for more!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for my ALC of this one in exchange for my review!

This historical m/m romance was great, I love the meet cute, and the romance in real life where both of them are fighting for their own lives, survival and to have love where it's not accepted

Wow, what a sweet (and quite spicy) romance. I loved the mutual respect the characters had for one another and the way they worked through their struggles. The writing was eloquent and descriptive. The plot kept me fiercely engaged. One of the best narrations I’ve heard in forever. Loved!

Thank you KJ Charles, Dreamscape Media, and Netgalley for my audio advanced review copy. My opinions are my own.

Plot -5
Writing and Editing -5
Character Development -5
Narration -5
Personal Bias -5
Final Score -5

This book was so freaking CUTE. Omg, I am normally not a huge fan of historical romances but this was done so freaking well. I loved it. I am so excited for more books to come in this series (please oh please a sapphic with Joss’ sister). This was like a queer bridgerton (but better, I said it). This book felt like a hug, loved the chronically cautious and anxious paired with the confident and strong. Touch him, you’ll die. Did I already say this was so good?

Joss and Gareth are so in love!! And I love that for them :)) This story gives you everything and more in ol’ England. There’s secret relationships. Heartbreak. Estranged family. Reunions! Fun accents (audiobook is A+++). Biracial characters. Class difference. And, most importantly, two idiots in love. The idiot part is that they are so in love with each other but let their pride get in their way!!! Gareth and his obsession with bugs was so endearing… both Joss and I think so!

You should def read this book if you are looking for a good time, some queer biracial romance in historical England!

There are few authors that I'm always in the mood for reading. KJ Charles is one of them. Even though I don't love all the stories, I always enjoy them and they feel like a soft, warm blanket.
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen was no exception. I adored it. It's a mix between mystery, family and falling deeply in love. I love how Charles doesn't forget the side characters. Everyone is just as important and it makes for a more dynamic read. In this particular book, the family is such an important part - one having had none and just now getting one and the other being surrounded with them his entire life, with both love and responsibilities.

Loved the story, loved Gareth and Joss in all their love, loyalty and flaws. Loved watching them fall deeply, irrevocably in love. A true romance.

That said, I was not a fan of the narrator. I didn't mind the voice as much as the narration itself. It felt very stitled. But, I won't let that take away from the book.

/ Denise

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen was a new read for me. I've very rarely dived into MM style romances, but this was stunning. KJ has done a wonderful job shaping the Kent fields giving the background setting a great atmosphere, add that in with the easy reading writing and complex characters - this book just had it all for fans of romance reads or even casuals who wish to dip their toes into the romance genre. Finding out this is a duology just made it all the more exciting!

Trope Guide;
✔️ Historical Romance
✔️ Class differences
✔️ Instant attraction
✔️ MM

I read this one mostly as an audiobook, the narrator was fantastic and helped make it such an immersive read.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

title: The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen

author: KJ Charles

publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

publication date: March 7, 2023

pages: 352

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: violence, death

summary: When Gareth's mother died, years before the opening of the novel, his father sends him away from their Baroncy in Kent to live with an unkind uncle in London. Now that his father has died, he moves to Kent to claim his inheritance. Once there, he comes across the Doomsday family of smugglers, run by their leader Joss, a man with whom Gareth had a brief affair that didn't end well.

tropes:

I'll never see this person again
inheritance
mean family
newly discovered family
noble criminals

on different sides of the law
things are not as they appear
pro-LGBTQ+ characters in a place/time where/when their actions were against the law

what I liked:

strong characterization
some great humor
two main characters live in a time when they can't be open about who they are, but they find ways to make a life
together
great supporting characters

what I didn’t like:

nope, nothing here

overall rating: 5 (of 5 stars)

Enemies-to-lovers stories are a tough sell for me because the transition is usually too abrupt to be convincing. Not so with KJ Charles’s books. She always nails it and her latest lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romance, THE SECRET LIVES OF COUNTRY GENTLEMEN, is no exception. She develops solid chemistry between Joss and Gareth, lays real obstacles in their path, and shows us exactly how they work through the circumstances that keep them at odds. No shortcuts allowed. There’s growth on both sides, coupled with plenty of emotion and a durned good mystery with high stakes for both parties.

And, as always, she imbues the story with depth beyond the surface plot. TSLOCG explores how people in different circumstances navigate the world, what sudden social elevations can mean for those involved, and how societal rules might conflict with day to day life from multiple angles.

All in all: another great romance from KJ Charles. Definitely recommended, on audio (how I experienced it, with many thanks to Dreamscape Media for the ALC), or in print.

I cannot wait for the next book! I loved these characters - I hated when the story ended. I have hopes who could be the focus of the next book - gah, I really am too excited.
The romance, Joss and Gareth, their heated lovemaking - I just cannot recommend enough.
I loved the narrator - did an excellent job bringing these characters to life.
Two men meet at a London bar - become lovers, something of friends, using their towns as names. Unfortanely, Kent needs to return - to Kent, as his business in London as ended. London walks away - refusing to share contact information.
A few months later they meet again - in a small town near Kent. London about to give evidence against Kent's sister - turns out Joss' family business is smuggling. And Gareth is the new baronet.

I absolutely loved every thing about this charming and atmospheric , mystery historical romance.

From the setting , the heroes , the plot lines to the fantastic narration and audioproduction, all worked perfectly.

This is an audio I will be listening again.

I just reviewed The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles. #TheTheSecretLivesofCountryGentlemen #NetGalley