A Gentleman Never Tells (Affairs by Moonlight, #2)

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A Gentleman Never Tells (Affairs By Moonlight #2)

by Juliana Gray (Goodreads Author)

3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 · rating details · 108 ratings · 22 reviews

Six years ago, Elizabeth Harewood and Lord Roland Penhallow were London's golden couple, young and beautiful and wildly in love. Forced apart by her scheming relatives and his clandestine career, Lilibet and Roland buried their passion beneath years of duty and self-denial, until a chance holiday encounter changes everything they ever knew about themselves…and each other.

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Mass Market Paperback, 310 pages

Published November 6th 2012 by Berkley Sensation

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Mar 15, 2013 Ewa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: did-not-finish, heroine-tstl, victorian, calling-kaszpirowski, so-much-angst, would-be-better-without-the-kid

I knew I wouldn't really like this story (it has couple of my least favorite plot devices: a kid, second chance at love, (view spoiler)), but I decided to read it for the sake of continuity. I was curious how would author present events from the previous book (the series are three love stories overlapping, happening at the same time and place), but it turned out it was just a lot of rewriting same dialogues, some of them definitely unneccessary and irrele...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-2012, romance-regency

Another wonderful book by this new author. It continues/parallels the first book in the series. This is Roland's and Lilbet's story but the characters are the same, the setting, etc. but the parallel story is told from their perspective. Roland was in love with her years ago and she with him. He was also a fledgling spy and when sent on a mission he left Liliabet without notice. Due to family pressures she married another man. Now six years later they meet in Italy where she is trying to hide fr...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Chelsey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Elizabeth Harewood and Lord Roland Penhallow were to be married at one time, that is until he up and left without any word. Elizabeth, or Lilibet, did what was necessary and moved on with her life, marrying someone else and having a child. As with most romance novels, time brings Elizabeth and Roland back together again. The old flame is quickly ignited and these two are in a battle against the sexual, physical, and emotional tensions that are created between them. Elizabeth, however, has recent...more Elizabeth Harewood and Lord Roland Penhallow were to be married at one time, that is until he up and left without any word. Elizabeth, or Lilibet, did what was necessary and moved on with her life, marrying someone else and having a child. As with most romance novels, time brings Elizabeth and Roland back together again. The old flame is quickly ignited and these two are in a battle against the sexual, physical, and emotional tensions that are created between them. Elizabeth, however, has recently escaped the infidelities of her husband, and he is hot on her trail. Roland realizes quickly that his feelings are still apparent when it comes to Lilibet, and that he will do whatever it takes to protect her and her son.

I greatly enjoyed all of the characters that made up this book and I loved how this book coincided with Juliana’s first book, A Lady Never Lies. There were a few places that the story progressed really slowly for me and I found myself wanting to skip a few pages. I wasn’t as into this story as I was with the first one, but it still had its perks. I really enjoyed Roland’s character, at times maybe more than Elizabeth’s. All my readers know that this is odd for me because I am usually a strong feminist, and the male characters in romance novels like this one usually get on my last nerve. I found Roland to be rather charming and I liked his fun-loving nature.

This novel is quite humorous and had me laughing at times, especially during some rather heated conversations. I like the spunk that both Elizabeth and Roland had to offer at times, and I think that I enjoyed the scenes when they were together most of all. I just felt like this story too closely resembled many others and I found myself being able to predict a lot of what would happen next. If you read the first book in this series, then I would definitely say to give this one a try!

***Thank you to the publishers at Berkley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review***
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Mar 12, 2013 Danae rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: brilliant-repartee, historical-romance, reviewed, victorian-romance

3.5 stars for this sweet, funny story - the extra 0.5 star is for the great humour and for Philip, the 5 year old heart stealer. JG has used the device of telling the story from the varying perspectives of 3 couples in a series of 3 books. While I enjoyed this one overall, it dragged at times and the villain was painted to be far more dark than what the story revealed. Also the author strangely left the villain's, Somerton, fate unclear at the end, specially as he has a role in Naval Intelligenc...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Wantonsoup rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 20, 2013 J. Lynne rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, gave-up-on

I read the first book in this series, A LADY NEVER LIES, and liked it. However, I couldn't even finish this one.

My biggest problem: Roland and Lilibet's relationship. The entire time I was thinking, "What?!" Their immediate sexual reconciliation rang fake. Roland's reaction afterwards confused me even more. The characters and their relationship didn't feel real. Also, Lilibet is supposed to be married to one of the most depraved nobles in England. So, imagine my surprise when he's nowhere near a...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Jess rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for_review, historical

Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: C

Lilibet and Roland were young and in love six years ago when Roland up and left Lilibet without a word. He was secretly working as an intelligence agent for the Bureau, living a life undercover and couldn’t get word to Lilibet that he was sent away on an assignment. She gave up hope after too much time went by without a word and ended up marrying Lord Somerton, a man who’s cheated on her for years and Lilibet has had enough. She’s now estran...more Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: C

Lilibet and Roland were young and in love six years ago when Roland up and left Lilibet without a word. He was secretly working as an intelligence agent for the Bureau, living a life undercover and couldn’t get word to Lilibet that he was sent away on an assignment. She gave up hope after too much time went by without a word and ended up marrying Lord Somerton, a man who’s cheated on her for years and Lilibet has had enough. She’s now estranged from Somerton and she, along with her young son, travel to an Italian castle with Alexandra and Abigail to hide out for the time being. She never thought that she’d run into Roland, who’s also been advised to hide for the next year, as someone in his line of work has put a target on his back. He’s laying low for now, and couldn’t be more delighted to finally cross paths with Lilibet and he vows to not let her go again, husband or not.

What I enjoy quite a bit about this story and the series as a whole is the humor and quirkiness of the characters. They don’t take themselves too seriously, Roland especially, comes off as a happy go lucky, fun loving man, who’s leading a double life. It’s actually hard to imagine this man as an intelligence agent, since he’ll say the most random things. It’s the type of humor that a reader will either love and embrace or be turned off totally by it. For me, it works. I found myself chuckling and smiling at the conversations and actions from all the characters, leads and supporting cast and was entertained.

Where the story lost me a bit was with just that – the story. It was difficult to get into for ¾ of the book until the action picked up the pace at the end. This is a series where the three couple’s storylines are all happening at once. In book 1 we got Alexandra and Burke’s story, but still learned snippets of what was happening at the same time with the other two couples. Now it’s Lilibet and Roland’s turn and even though I found the idea interesting, having the three stories happening at once during the first book, getting a few repetitive scenes in book 2 (even from different character’s perspectives) dragged the pace of the story down for me. It’s not like the scenes were identical, they were unique in that we’re focused on a different set of leading characters, but it still didn’t help the flow.

“Darling.” He slid the gown over the smooth ball of her shoulder and kissed her there, through the nightgown. Her skin hummed with warmth beneath his lips. “What adorable scruples you have. I shall take great pleasure in divesting you of them, one by one.” He gave the gown a little tug with his other hand, and it slipped to the floor with a heavy sigh. “Do you know what I think?” He placed his lips in the hollow of her throat and ran the tip of his tongue along her delicate skin. “I think you’re far more wicked than you let on.”

The relationship between Lilibet and Roland was sweet albeit very quick with the love on Roland’s part. Granted, the man has never stopped loving Lilibet, but he was making future plans and declaring his complete love for her very soon after reconnecting after six years, never mind that she’s still married. I really liked Lilibet. She was forced into a marriage she didn’t really want to help her family and she’s been miserable ever since; the only good thing coming from the union is her son, Philip. She’s been gathering information against her husband for years and is finally ready to initiate divorce proceedings, but she’s still worried that he’ll take Philip from her. What Roland and Lilibet never counted on was a meddling family member and how that person impacts the end when Roland and Somerton finally face off.

From a character stand point, I was entertained, the humor was a hit with me and I found the characters, especially Roland and Lilibet (and from a supporting role, Abigail) to be enjoyable to follow. I just had a really hard time getting hooked into their story and felt like the action that came from the bad guy Somerton, only picked up steam at the very end. I liked this story, I just didn’t love it. But Abigail holds the most potential for craziness and fun, especially as she goes up against the hero of her story, Roland’s brother, the straight laced and serious Duke of Wallingford. I am looking forward to seeing their relationship play out in the next book.(less)

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Mar 02, 2013 Shoshana rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, did-not-finish, romance

Don't even remember what this one was about, but I didn't finish it. I must have disliked something about it. Oh, yeah, it was just not written that well and had skipped over some of the dramatic stuff before the beginning, and also he was high handed and also I just didn't buy their relationship or the behavior of their friends and the sequence of events was confusing, even by page 50. Also, I automatically don't like books where he's a spy, so if you're that, you really have to sell me hard (M...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Belinda rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review is from: A Gentleman Never Tells (Mass Market Paperback)
Reading the second installment from Juliana Gray's A Gentleman Never Tells was funny and witty. I just adored Lord Roland Penhollow and Lilibet,Countess of Somerton. Six years ago they were in love and the toast of the ton. But scheming relatives broke them apart: sending Roland to do work as an agent for the government and Lilibet married off to help her family obligations. Now both of them are on a holiday in Italy. Roland me...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Evangeline Holland rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1890s, england, espionage, historical-romance, marriage, italy, reunited-lovers, sent-by-author

I won a copy of book 3 in this trilogy, and that delightful strumpet Ms. Gray thoughtfully included book 2 as well (which I intended to purchase, naturally, but this was an unexpected bonus). I actually set this down to get to other books after reading the first three chapters, not because it was boring, but because my queue of reads has grown exponentially since the end of November and I had to complete timed-ARCs and books sent in for review first! However, once I got all--or most--of those bo...more I won a copy of book 3 in this trilogy, and that delightful strumpet Ms. Gray thoughtfully included book 2 as well (which I intended to purchase, naturally, but this was an unexpected bonus). I actually set this down to get to other books after reading the first three chapters, not because it was boring, but because my queue of reads has grown exponentially since the end of November and I had to complete timed-ARCs and books sent in for review first! However, once I got all--or most--of those books out of the way, I was able to pick this up again and completed it in two days.

Though AGNT takes place around roughly the same time as A Lady Never Lies, aside from the set-up, every scene between Roland and Lilibet is brand new and strictly about them--none of that "let's see this scene from a different POV" filling up the book, much to my relief. As seen in book 1, Gray has a strong and deft hand with characterization, and not only are Roland and Lilibet wonderful in their own right, but the other characters remain true to who they are in their own books. But let's get to the important part: the romance.

It was highly-charged with emotion and witty even though the circumstances were not fun and games. Some may be put-off by the circumstances of the romance between our protagonists, but the story did not make light of the predicament in which Roland and the very-married Lilibet finds themselves. Plus, just when I thought the book would zig into a cliche, it ended up zagging into heart-rending territory that kept me glued to the pages. The only moments that stretched my credulity was the deus-ex-machina (or perhaps the Duke-ex-machina) at the end, where the tangled skeins of espionage, adultery, and romance are revealed to be tugged and twisted in the hands of the mysterious Duke of Olympia (Roland's grandfather). Nevertheless, I ended the book with a big smile on my face--once again Ms. Gray has written a satisfying, sexy, funny, and un-put-downable historical romance that skillfully balances angst with wit and is filled with great characters. On to book 3!(less)

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Oct 23, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: juliana-gray, historical-romance, arc

Six years ago, Elizabeth Harewood and Lord Roland Penhallow meet and fell in love and were sure to marry each other....until Roland left and never sent any work to Lilibet. Thinking he deserted her, she marries an Earl and has a son but as time goes by, her husbands infidelity and indifference leave a mark on her. She escapes to the Italian countryside with her son and sister and friend to have a year to think, to see if she can gather to courage to ask for a divorce. However, fate deals her a m...more Six years ago, Elizabeth Harewood and Lord Roland Penhallow meet and fell in love and were sure to marry each other....until Roland left and never sent any work to Lilibet. Thinking he deserted her, she marries an Earl and has a son but as time goes by, her husbands infidelity and indifference leave a mark on her. She escapes to the Italian countryside with her son and sister and friend to have a year to think, to see if she can gather to courage to ask for a divorce. However, fate deals her a major obstacle in the form of Roland and the past passion is quickly ignited again! How can she survive at this castle with him around, peppering her with compliments and lovely touches? Just when things seem to be finally fitting together, her husband arrives. With Roland determined to protect Lilibet and her son and Lilibet determined to protect Roland, who will come out ahead?

I so enjoyed Juliana Gray's debut and A Gentleman Never Tells is filled with the same wonderful writing and I just devoured it! This book takes place at the same times as A Lady Never Lies but beyond a few scenes, it is an entirely new story, which was a fact I was very happy about because sometimes when stories run parallel to each other the overlap is too similar. Not the case at all here! I was not sure how I would like this story since I do not usually approve of adultery in the story but the love between Roland and Lilibet just vibrates off the pages and I can forgive it in this storyline. I felt it was a nice change of pace to not have a horribly violent husband on the hunt for the missing wife, I enjoyed the little twists that Ms Gray put into this story regarding their relationship and how it ends up being resolved. Lilibet is a strong, vibrant, passionate woman who loves her son to the end of the earth and will do whatever is necessary to raise him into a dashing young man, far different from his father. I enjoyed watching Roland bungle his attempts to talk to the young boy, Henry, at first and they slowly developed a good relationship. Roland has a past he is keeping hidden from Lilibet that explains his sudden absence and his seemingly rakish lifestyle. He was such a treat to read! Silly yet serious. The first half kind of moved a little slow action wise but the pace picked up later and the story unwinds in ways I did not expect! I again loved all the attention to detail from the scenery to the manner of speaking, Ms Gray has a expert way about her writing that I just love and she is on my auto buy list. 4 stars for a clever story with characters you can't wait to read more about and see how a single choice can change everything.

ARC won from the author, thank you so much!

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Jan 23, 2013 Julie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, regency-romance

I utterly enjoy Juliana Gray's romances, and this particular one was a quick delight to read. The hero and heroine have just enough of that "special something" to keep their readers engaged and longing to witness their next encounter. For anyone who truly enjoys a lite regency romance on a cold night in bed, "A Gentleman Never Tells" will make a warm companion. The cover is certainly eye-catching and richly provocative lending a smooth introduction.

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Nov 09, 2012 Bonnie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, series-to-finish

Giving this more like 3.5 stars. An adorable and funny read for sure however, a bit slow at times. The story line is interesting and the characters are very likable. I really enjoy how this story coincides with the timeline of the previous book A Lady Never Lies. So as you are reading through this story you're seeing things that occurred in the previous book from this couple's POV. It's really clever actually and a lot of it is quite humorous. I also believe that there is way more to the servant...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Krista Mercer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

I usually steer far clear of adultery books but this was a delightful exception. Lord Roland is completely charming, a perfect match for Lilibet. In addition, the slowly developing and genuine relationship between Roland and Philip (Lilibet's son) was a pleasure to read (I was worried how the author would resolve this, but it rang true).

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Dec 05, 2012 Cally73 rated it 3 of 5 stars

I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the previous book, and I think that has more to do with not especially liking the character of Lilibet. Still looking forward to the next book - I want to know about those goose feathers!

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Jan 18, 2013 Virginia rated it 3 of 5 stars

A little slow in the middle. I havent read #1 and I think it would flow better if I had. Good enough I ordered #1.
Really dislike the model's expression on the cover.

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Mar 25, 2013 Jeanne Mulcahy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I likes the first one in the series a little better. Looking forward to the third.

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May 07, 2013 Linda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Not as good as others in series but still fun. Didn't connect with the plot.

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Feb 24, 2013 Kathryn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, romance-historical

I was slow to get into this story. It was only Ok for the reason.

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Dec 16, 2012 Jackie rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Not as good as the first book in the series, but still quite a pleasure. Gray's use of language continues to be a treat, and the character of Roland a delight. The resolution with Lilibet's husband confused me -- did Somerton really have no plan for what to do with Roland and Lilibet once he had them in his clutches? Or could the author just not come up with a good way to resolve the impasse?

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Oct 24, 2012 Lacy rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: historical romance fans-reunited lovers, ok w/ infidelity

Shelves: historical-romance, adc-reviews, tbr-september-2012, infidelity, reunited-lovers-2nd-chance-at-love, italy, child-children, steamy-read, baby-pregnancy, humorous-read, adorable-hero

3.5 stars. A Gentleman Never Tells is a humorous, steamy, sweet read with a very likeable hero and lots of interaction between Roland, the hero, and Elizabeth's son Philip. It also has some nice twists.

Although I don't like books with infidelity, I ended up liking this book in spite of that.

Reviewed for http://www.adcmagazine.com/ in the November/December issue.

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Jan 21, 2013 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought that this was a good book, but not quite as good as the first book in the trilogy. The first had more humor and I enjoyed it. All of the 3 books tell the same basic story but from different people's viewpoints. Will read the third book and I have enjoyed this new author.

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Nov 17, 2012 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Illiberal is a good heroine that you will care about and her son Philip is the best character in the book.

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Mar 14, 2013 Metaspinster rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: hr-victorian, hr-european, romance-historical, trope-second-chances, trope-spies, theme-abuse-sexual-violence, theme-family-community, theme-pregnancy-fecundity, trope-pining, trope-kids-parenthood-esque

3.5 or 3.75 stars?

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May 19, 2013 Phaedra marked it as to-read

May 17, 2013 Renee rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-borrowed-from-library

May 16, 2013 Stacy Franklin rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 13, 2013 Rebecca marked it as to-read

May 13, 2013 Julia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

May 17, 2013 Ruth Greene rated it 4 of 5 stars

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