MARCH 2023 - AudioFile
Martyn Swain narrates a romance between a gentleman and a smuggler. After his father's sudden death, Gareth Inglis inherits a house in Romney Marsh, Kent, and unexpectedly comes face-to-face with a former lover whom he parted from on bad terms. Swain's portrayal of Gareth, who suffered emotional abuse most of his life and is now healing, is deeply affecting. Joss Doomsday, who on the surface seems far more confident but has several of his own demons to contend with, is also portrayed with nuance and compassion by Swain. Accents often distinguish between locals and others, and Swain's are impeccable. His pacing may be initially off-putting, but his otherwise accomplished narration more than makes up for that minor flaw. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
★ 01/23/2023
Charles (the Will Darling Adventures series) launches the Doomsday Books series with a dark and stunning love story between a smuggler and a newly minted baronet. In the Kentish moors of the early 19th century, smuggling boss Joss Doomsday, head of the formidable Doomsday clan, and Sir Gareth Inglis, whose absent father’s death has lately conferred the baronetcy on him, commence a tumultuous but tender affair while dodging a rival smuggling gang’s hunt for 10,000 guineas owed them by Gareth’s father and navigating a handful of troublesome relatives on both sides. The author’s gift for historical fiction is on clear display, as Romney Marsh, Kent, is vividly evoked with both its scenic landmarks and local fauna (indeed, there are a surprising number of beetles and newts for a romance). Charles does not shy from the darker side of the smuggling business, with beatings and murders featuring heavily in the plot, but the characters grapple with morality in a convincing way through discussions and arguments and fallings-out. The few threads left dangling at the end only whet the appetite for future books. Readers will devour this. Agent: Courtney Miller-Callihan, Handspun Literary. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
"With sparkling prose, evocative descriptions of its coastal locale, and unforgettable characters, The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is a romantic, swashbuckling tale from start to finish. K. J. Charles is not to be missed by any reader who loves Regency Romance." — Manda Collins, Bestselling Author of A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
"As always, Charles combines masterful prose, thrilling romance, fantastic wit, and gripping stakes. Her characters feel as real and relatable as a bruise. She is, in my opinion, a titan of her genre." — Talia Hibbert, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
"A delightful new Regency romance." — Library Journal, Starred Review
"KJ Charles weaves romance, intrigue, and history into one deliciously compelling read." — Megan Frampton, author of Four Weeks of Scandal
"A dark and stunning love story...Readers will devour this." — Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"Fans of Charles’ Society of Gentlemen series and new readers alike will adore this complex and emotional historical romance." — BookPage, Starred Review
"Once again KJ Charles has produced an absolute masterpiece! Joss and Gareth’s cross-class, emotional struggle will have you rooting for them on every page. Charles is one of the best writers in the game, and her books never disappoint!" — Joanna Shupe, USA Today bestselling author
"All I want from 2023 is romantic adventure and KJ Charles is delivering! The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen has it all: Smuggling! Blackmail! Secret rendezvous! Scoundrels! Sweethearts! Big feelings! KJ Charles is one of the best romance novelists writing today and The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is proof. Historical romance at its finest." — Sarah MacLean, New York Times Bestseller
"Dangerous smuggler meets rule-abiding baronet in this gorgeously written novel brimming with romance, wit, emotion and mystery." — Maya Rodale, USA Today bestselling author
"The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is equal parts a tender romance and a riveting story of smuggling and adventure. [A] joy to read from start to finish." — Martha Waters, author of To Have and to Hoax
BookPage (starred review)
“[A] complex and emotional historical romance.”
Library Journal
★ 01/01/2023
Charles (Subtle Blood; "A Charm of Magpies" series) successfully balances a complicated suspense plot and an emotionally resonant romance. Gareth Inglis has never felt wanted, which causes him to lash out when he feels he might be hurt. After the untimely death of his father and his inheritance of a baronetcy in Kent, he must confront his past, including a former partner he parted with on bad terms. Joss Doomsday thought he'd never see the man he knew as "London" again after they quarreled the last time they saw each other. When Gareth appears as the heir to a baronetcy in the area, he assumes their paths won't cross, until Gareth spots Joss's sister on a nighttime smuggling run and decides to present evidence, something Joss is determined to stop. A rocky reunion gives way to a lasting connection as Joss and Gareth reunite and discover more about themselves. Charles skillfully sketches the early 19th-century Kentish marshes, allowing readers to understand the geography of the story without overwhelming them. VERDICT This novel launches a delightful new Regency romance series from Charles; readers will be eagerly anticipating the next installment.—Brigid Black
MARCH 2023 - AudioFile
Martyn Swain narrates a romance between a gentleman and a smuggler. After his father's sudden death, Gareth Inglis inherits a house in Romney Marsh, Kent, and unexpectedly comes face-to-face with a former lover whom he parted from on bad terms. Swain's portrayal of Gareth, who suffered emotional abuse most of his life and is now healing, is deeply affecting. Joss Doomsday, who on the surface seems far more confident but has several of his own demons to contend with, is also portrayed with nuance and compassion by Swain. Accents often distinguish between locals and others, and Swain's are impeccable. His pacing may be initially off-putting, but his otherwise accomplished narration more than makes up for that minor flaw. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
