Review: The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by K.J. Charles
SYNOPSIS:
Abandoned by his father as a small child, Sir Gareth Inglis has grown up prickly, cold, and well-used to disappointment. Even so, he longs for a connection, falling headfirst into a passionate anonymous affair that’s over almost as quickly as it began. Bitter at the sudden rejection, Gareth has little time to lick his wounds: his father has died, leaving him the family title, a rambling manor on the remote Romney Marsh…and the den of cutthroats and thieves that make its intricate waterways their home.
Joss Doomsday has run the Doomsday smuggling clan since he was a boy. His family is his life…which is why when the all-too-familiar new baronet testifies against Joss’s sister for a hanging offense, Joss acts fast, blackmailing Gareth with the secret of their relationship to force him to recant. Their reunion is anything but happy and the path forward everything but smooth, yet after the dust settles, neither can stay away. It’s a long road from there—full of danger and mysteries to be solved—yet somehow, along the way, this well-mannered gentleman may at last find true love with the least likely of scoundrels.
REVIEW:
This story was a delightful change of pace. I haven’t read a historical romance in some time; and usually my experiences with them are strictly romance. But this story added in the hidden danger, a puzzling mystery, and a sizzling romance. Needless to say, I couldn’t put the book down.
I adored London and Kent/Gareth and Joss, they just work together. They went from hook-up partners to enemies to lovers in the most delicious transition. Gareth and Joss were surprising, dynamic characters. Both had layers and layers of hidden depth, and I could never truly predict how they would act but took joy in every time they surprised me. The romance and chemistry between them was off the charts and while both men are stupidly stubborn, I loved how they communicated and eventually got things right.
The mystery and danger plot line I saw coming rather fast but I was captivated by how things played out. The secondary characters (well most of them) added so much support and a dash of playfulness to the story. As I finished the story and saw Gareth and Joss get their HEA, my only complaint is I was left wanting more. I am not quiet ready to leave this world.
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
