A Gentleman Never Keeps Score by Cat Sebastian

Sep 20, 2018 ~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ rated it really liked it

Shelves: british-boys, comfort-healing, historical, m-m

~3.5~

All the stars for:

✔ strong writing (Cat Sebastian has a way with words);
✔ vivid sense of time/place (London, 1817);
✔ fantastic secondary characters (I loved Alf and Sadie, not to mention Kate and Nick!) who added depth to the story;
✔ likable MCs (particularly Sam, who was maybe too sweet);
✔ humour (Hartley was adorably snarky);
✔ non-white MC (Sam was well aware of the scrutiny upon him as a free black man);
✔ cute baby + three-legged dog + Hartley with said baby and dog (all the cuten ...more

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Jul 31, 2018 Anne Boleyn's Ghost rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

This book. It made me teary-eyed and it made me sigh. I was a sniffling, gooey mess. Although A Gentleman Never Keeps Score isn't my favorite Cat Sebastian book, it is deeply touching and tender.

Since I’m on record as low-key stanning Sebastian’s stories (although I'm low-key hating this cover) it is no surprise that her characters always affect me. Hartley Sedgwick may be one of the most affecting yet. Hart's dead godfather was a sexual predator who took advantage of a teenaged Hart's love for This book. It made me teary-eyed and it made me sigh. I was a sniffling, gooey mess. Although A Gentleman Never Keeps Score isn't my favorite Cat Sebastian book, it is deeply touching and tender.

Since I’m on record as low-key stanning Sebastian’s stories (although I'm low-key hating this cover) it is no surprise that her characters always affect me. Hartley Sedgwick may be one of the most affecting yet. Hart's dead godfather was a sexual predator who took advantage of a teenaged Hart's love for his brothers. And society, as society is wont to do, blamed the victim. I appreciated that Sebastian doesn’t shy away from exploring the lasting effects of sexual abuse. Wearing an armor of buttons, Hart is adverse to touch, unfamiliar with true pleasure, believing himself unworthy of true affection.

That begins to change when he meets Sam, a black former boxer and pub owner. While I found Hartley a prickly but sweet cinnamon roll, I found Sam the sweetest of sweet cinnamon rolls. Sam is caring, supportive of his family and friends and community, an all-around genuinely good person. Searching for a scandalous painting of his friend, he traces it to Hartley’s godfather, and the men partner to find and destroy it. Sam just wants to help his friend. Hart just wants revenge against the man who abused him. But they get so much more.

Sebastian’s exploration of racism and classism and social stigma amid the love story is very well-done. While nursing their respective insecurities and doubts, Hart and Sam acknowledge the difficulty and danger in being together. But they find that their love is worth the risk, and they find a way. I adored how Sam took care of Hart, pulling him into the light and into his life, and I adored how Hart wanted to give Sam everything despite fearing that he didn't have anything to give, how he was there when Sam needed him.

Some readers found the overall evolution of the romance lacking, and I think that those findings do have some merit. The supporting characters are well-crafted and wonderful, but the book sometimes had an ensemble feel that infringed upon the romance. I wanted more solo interactions between Hart and Sam, more thoughts of one another, more insight into how their relationship transcended the initial physical connection, more emotional build-up. Yet they shared some utterly wonderful and warm moments, and I was so glad that such two deserving souls found each other.

I don’t even care that there was a very obvious set-up for Will and Martin because I'm SO here for Will and Martin.

A Gentleman Never Keeps Score is a sweet and heartwarming story. I always recommend Cat Sebastian's books, and this is no different. ...more

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Jun 13, 2018 Hollis rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018-reads, a-smattering-of-lols, arc, ebook, finished-in-june-2018, hello-diversity, hist-romance, lgbtq, m-m, not-all-the-feels-but-some

"When you said you brought something to cheer me up, I thought maybe some boiled sweets. Not an enormous glass prick."

I've been looking forward to more of Sebastian's Seducing the Sedgwicks since book one came out and I don't want to say I was disappointed by Hartley's story, because I wasn't, but I guess I expected more of the kind of pure gooey delicious fluff we got in IT TAKES TWO TO TUMBLE. What the author offers up in A GENTLEMAN NEVER KEEPS SCORE is more serious, more weighted in some not ...more

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Aug 07, 2018 Richard Derus rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindled, quiltbag

I quite like all the interconnectedness of these stories, and was gratified that Ben showed up despite being happily hooked up with his Phillip.

Not quite as easy for me was the nature of Hartley's problem barring him from easy intimacy with Sam. Saintly Sam got a smidge saccharine if you want to know the truth. The big problem separating them was, in the end, less resolved than treated with a massive injection of handwavium. I was in the fullness of my go-with-the-flow mood from Ben and Phillip' ...more

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Jul 10, 2018 WhiskeyintheJar/Kyraryker rated it liked it

Shelves: historical, regency, series

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

When his godfather leaves his house to him, Hartley's reputation gets banded about in less than complimentary terms. Feeling shunned, Hartley finds himself losing servants and becoming a bit of a shut-in.
Sam just wants to see his brother and his friend Kate finally get married and when he learns Kate fears a scandalous painting of her becoming public knowledge I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

When his godfather leaves his house to him, Hartley's reputation gets banded about in less than complimentary terms. Feeling shunned, Hartley finds himself losing servants and becoming a bit of a shut-in.
Sam just wants to see his brother and his friend Kate finally get married and when he learns Kate fears a scandalous painting of her becoming public knowledge, he sets out to find it for her.
When Hartley and Sam meet, the spark is instant but circumstances, emotions, and life are going to give them a bumpy road.

Hartley went utterly still as he contemplated how thoroughly ruinous this was going to be for both of them.

Second in the Seducing the Sedgwicks, a series following along the Sedgwick brothers, this book focuses on Hartley, the brother who is deeply conflicted about how he sees trading sexual favors with his godfather for money to help his family. He doesn’t like to be touched and has a little bit of a prickly personality. Maybe because Sam was such a strong character but Hartley didn't leap off the pages for me. He's pretty self-contained and we do get a couple scenes with two of his brothers that highlight his personality but overall, he didn't grab me.

There was no reason for Sam to be thinking of Sedgwick at all, in fact. He wasn’t even that handsome unless you had a liking for fragile-looking men with fussy clothes.

Sam was the character that shone the brightest to me, he's a strong character but in the most gentle of ways. He has a similar shy, hidden aspect of his personality like Hartley, which due to their sexuality in their place and time is a necessity, but he also has rise to the front proclivity for, simply, caring. It is not an overdone martyr syndrome but no thought, generous, and loving way he makes his choices. The way he acts, responds, and encourages Hartley, is what make this story shine and will fill your heart.

And while only a fool would believe that a kitchen table supper between a rich man, a black boxer, and a three-legged dog could be the beginning of something good, maybe Sam was more foolish than he thought.

The writing showcased here is good and the ease of conversations and interactions between the main couple and secondary characters is the escape into fictional worlds above average quality that will suck you into the world. The first in the series, It Takes Two Tumble, I thought did a great job with the emotional growth in the lead's relationship, here I found that aspect lacking in the beginning. Hartley and Sam's sexual relationship develops pretty quickly, the emotional layers were a ways behind and as a consequence, I found their romance lacking. The sexual play scenes start very early and then when they do have a more solid emotional connection, I thought their sex scene was a bit short and abrupt and didn't deliver the impact (Hartley overcoming his touch issues) I was wanting to feel. The ending did provide some wonderful simple talking between Sam and Hartley that I wish had replaced some of the earlier sex scenes as I felt this showed their attraction and closeness more.

Nobody should have that kind of power over anyone, no matter how much money they had or if they had a title in front their name.

This story is heavily about relationships, the outer story and catalyst for getting Sam and Hartley together involving paintings is made to seem important only to be casually pushed to the background for most of the story and then a little rushed importance at the end. The secondary characters are superb (love Alf, Hartley's sort of valet) and add immensely to the story and world. This is one of the more realistic fiction romances with social issues realistically playing a role. If you're looking for a lot of action or adventure, this wouldn't be it but if you want sweet and aching emotion, you'll want to dive in. ...more

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Jul 25, 2018 Chris rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical, lgbtq

Another lovely historical romance by the queen herself ! This was sweet, warm and made me smile. Sam was the kind hearted soul who took care of people around him. Being a black man who leased a pub made life challenging as the dodgy cops were always looking for trouble. Hartley was the damaged young man, shunned by society for being a degenerate but who was really a victim of abuse. Both men always looking out for others with soft hearts. They recognized this in each other and the dance of frien ...more

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Jul 15, 2018 Sofia rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018, historical

This left me with a warm feeling at imaging them all at the pub, warmth and family and being ourselves, free.

The series seems to be going up for me, good.

I understand where the book cover is coming from and I applaud that but I really cannot make myself like it.

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Sep 06, 2017 ⚣Michaelle⚣ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: gb-options, lgbt

OMG that cover! Yes, more please...I need this naoooooww.

See my Rant Here for pre-rating.

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Jul 09, 2018 anna (readingpeaches) rated it it was ok

Shelves: 1-historical, 2-lgbt, 2-mlm, 2-protags-of-color, 4-siblings, arcs, 5-new-adult

This review is also posted on my blog.
I received an ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 ☆

It’s not that I was promised a slowburn with A Gentleman Never Keeps Score, but it is marketed as a regency era romance and there just are some things one expects from this genre. And the slowburn quality of the romance is the first on that list, the most important even.

So is A Gentleman Never Keeps Score a good book? Sure, it actually kind of is. And is the relationshi This review is also posted on my blog.
I received an ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 ☆

It’s not that I was promised a slowburn with A Gentleman Never Keeps Score, but it is marketed as a regency era romance and there just are some things one expects from this genre. And the slowburn quality of the romance is the first on that list, the most important even.

So is A Gentleman Never Keeps Score a good book? Sure, it actually kind of is. And is the relationship portrayed in a good, healthy way? Yeah. But am I disappointed in how the romance was conducted? You bet.

This is a story of Hartley Sedgwick, who came into money but was ultimately shunned by polite society of London due to his preferences and a past relationship, and Sam Fox, a black man who owns a bar, is an ex-boxer and would nothing more than to keep his whole neighbourhood warm and happy. Not a duo you would imagine ever even crossing paths, and yet they make it work. They work on their problems, they mature during the events of the novel, they learn from one another… It sounds great! And yet, I still feel cheated.

Because, you see, I was expecting that excruciating slowburn that Jane Austen was so good at. I was expecting the main couple to maybe kiss once by the ¾ mark of the book. What I got instead was a sex scene 50 pages in. Nothing about this scenario says “slow”. This really is my main grievance, since I just have no idea how I’m supposed to care about the characters or their relationship when it’s all dialed down to blowjobs. Sex is great and all, but how about the two gay men won’t jump on each other the first time they meet. How about that.

There’s also the fact that as one of the main characters is a black man, the narrative focuses a lot on the issues the black community faces. Which I suppose would be a good thing, only the author is white and is that really their place to talk about this? It’s one thing for white authors to have poc characters and another entirely to talk in detail about problems that aren’t their own, but instead a very specific group’s.

All in all, this is a weird book to review. On one hand it’s actually really well written, the characters are fleshed out, the dialogues natural. On the other though, there’s so much - and so soon! - focus on sex in this gay relationship, it slowly edges its way to fetishisation. Hartley might feel safe with Sam, but I don’t exactly feel neither safe, nor satisfied with A Gentleman Never Keeps Score. ...more

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Jul 09, 2018 Mandi Schreiner rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical

I don’t think I’ve ever read Cat Sebastian and shame on me! I really enjoyed her voice in this one – she gives us two characters that will make you smile and warm your heart.

Hartley Sedgwick took London drawing rooms by storm with his good looks and easy charm. But when his godfather dies, and Hartley inherits his house, the godfather’s son, who was overlooked in the inheritance, starts to release salacious gossip about Hartley – that he admires men, not women. There is 100% truth in this gossip I don’t think I’ve ever read Cat Sebastian and shame on me! I really enjoyed her voice in this one – she gives us two characters that will make you smile and warm your heart.

Hartley Sedgwick took London drawing rooms by storm with his good looks and easy charm. But when his godfather dies, and Hartley inherits his house, the godfather’s son, who was overlooked in the inheritance, starts to release salacious gossip about Hartley – that he admires men, not women. There is 100% truth in this gossip, but thankfully the son doesn’t have definite proof that would criminally prosecute Hartley. Instead, Hartley is shunned from society. He refuses to give up his house, and becomes a recluse. No matter how much his brothers try to get him out, he stews in misery as he watches his staff leave.

Sam Fox owns the Bell, a popular pub. A former boxer, Sam decided to leave the sport when he almost killed a man, and then his protegé died in the ring. Sam is black and follows every single rule as to not draw attention to himself. He knows being black makes him a target and he doesn’t want to give those with authority any reason to look at him. When his good friend Kate comes to him, upset that a nude portrait painted of her years ago, is making her nervous that it may one day expose her, he wants to help. Kate and his brother are fond of each other, but she is embarrassed that she posed nude when she was desperate for money years ago. Sam tracks this painting down to Hartley’s godfather, which is how Sam is found lurking outside of Hartley’s house late one night.

Hartley also was painted nude by the same artist – and he still suffers from the trauma of it all in present day. Used and abused as a young man, he can’t stand anyone to touch him. When Sam is lurking outside his house, his first instinct is fear. Sam is big and unknown to him. But Sam soon soothes him and Hartley realizes this man is not a threat. The two of them decide to work together to track down the paintings, and slowly Hartely starts to trust Sam and a romance develops.

I loved Hartley and Sam so much. Hartley’s spirit is broken since gossip broke that he likes men. He doesn’t necessarily deny it – he acts more feminine and it’s just always kind of been known that he wouldn’t chase after women. But he is lonely – and with his trauma of being touched and made to pose nude years ago, it makes it a difficult existence for him. Sam comes into his life in a random moment, and changes his life forever. Sam is the kindest most adorable romance hero!! He a is solid, strong man who also fights his past demons with guilt over what happened in the boxing ring. In present day, it’s exhaustion from having to live his life extremely proper as to not draw police attention to the black man in town.

Sam has a brother and his best friend Kate, and together the three of them have a lovely friendship/family. And what I really liked is that throughout the book, Hartley slowly makes his own family as well. His staff left him once the gossip broke – so he had hired a ruffian kid named Alf, who becomes his valet. And then Alf finds a young pregnant society lady who was kicked out of her house, to be the cook. These two, along with Hartley and Sam, become their own little family and it’s so cute and heart-warming.

The romance between Sam and Hartley starts out slowly, as Hartley can’t be touched. And Sam is so patient and kind, and willing to put Hartley’s needs first – and he listens to Hartley, so he is sure to not overstep his bounds. I loved them together. And let me not forget to mention the scene where Sam caresses Hartley’s gloves at the pub. It’s a longer scene but I’ll give you a tiny taste….

Sam out to put the glove down, pour some beers, get back to his damned job. Instead he turned it over on the table, gave it one final caress, and when he handed it back to Hartley, let his fingers graze over the the other man’s palm.

His breath hitched, and from the other man’s stillness, he thought Hartley wasn’t breathing either.

A heartwarming story of friendship and love.

Grade: B+ ...more

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Nov 17, 2017 Caz rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-and-a-half-stars, aar, arc, m-m, queer-romance, romance-1800-1850

I've given this a B+ at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars

This second book in Cat Sebastian’s Seducing the Sedgwicks series centres around Hartley, younger brother of Ben (hero of book one, It Takes Two to Tumble) whose backstory as explained in that book was both heartbreaking and intriguing. It’s impossible to discuss further without entering into spoiler territory for book one, so if you haven’t read it yet, but intend to and don’t want to know, then stop reading this review now.

If you have read the I've given this a B+ at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars

This second book in Cat Sebastian’s Seducing the Sedgwicks series centres around Hartley, younger brother of Ben (hero of book one, It Takes Two to Tumble) whose backstory as explained in that book was both heartbreaking and intriguing. It’s impossible to discuss further without entering into spoiler territory for book one, so if you haven’t read it yet, but intend to and don’t want to know, then stop reading this review now.

If you have read the previous book, then you’ll no doubt recall that Hartley was just sixteen when he entered upon a sexual relationship with his wealthy godfather, Sir Humphrey Easterbrook, with the intention of giving his brothers Ben and Will the chance to have a safe, secure life. Ben never knew where the money for his and Will’s school fees came from, or who purchased Will’s naval commission – and it’s only after Easterbrook’s death and the rumours started by the man’s son, that Hartley finally told his brothers the truth. Over the years spent with Easterbrook, Hartley turned himself into a gentleman of fashion and has been used to being welcomed by all – but when gossip started to circulate about the true nature of his relationship with his godfather, he was immediately shunned. Now, he’s all but a recluse, rarely leaving the expensive house left him in Easterbrook’s will, and waited upon by only a couple of servants – and he expects even those to abandon him soon.

Sam Fox, publican and ex-boxer, is content with his lot running the Bell public house near Fleet Street. The pub is doing well – it’s popular with servants and tradesmen both black and white, his brother, Nick, is the cook, and Nick’s lady-love, Kate Bradley, a busy midwife, helps out when she can. Nick wants to marry Kate, and although she’s not accepted him – yet – she’s going to; but there’s something she needs to clear up first. Five years earlier, a wealthy gentleman offered her a princely sum to let him paint her in the nude, and, needing money to cover her father’s gambling debts, she accepted. Nick knows about it, but Kate doesn’t like the idea of Nick’s being hurt should the portrait resurface and engender nasty gossip. Sam says he’ll ask around to see if he can find what’s become of the painting – which is how come he ends up loitering outside a house in Brook Street and being mistaken for a potential housebreaker by Hartley Sedgwick late one night.

The large man hanging around the back door appears completely impervious to Hartley’s sarcasm, and instead of leaving, asks if he’s drunk and all but carries him into the kitchen. When Hartley’s guest explains he’s looking for a painting, Hartley realises immediately what sort of painting it is, but also has to admit that he has no idea what happened to Easterbrook’s ‘art collection’, as those particular items had disappeared by the time he inherited the house. But he’s determined to find out, and for the first time in months feels as though he has a purpose, even if it’s to obtain revenge against a dead man.

Sam and Hartley arrange to meet again to discuss the search and compare notes – or so each tells himself, not wishing to acknowledge that his interest is more centred on the other man than on anything to do with the missing naughty pictures.

Ms. Sebastian skilfully imbues the romance between this mismatched pair with a great deal of sensuality and tenderness. Neither has had much – if any – experience of gentleness or affection when it comes to relationships; neither has experienced romantic love and Hartley, especially, has walled himself off emotionally, partly as a way of dealing with the things he’s done, and now because he’s wary of ‘infecting’ anyone he cares for with the stigma he carries. But the connection between him and Sam is strong and impossible to resist; and because of Hartley’s reluctance to be touched, their sexual relationship develops in a way that is outside Sam’s experience, but which he discovers he likes very much. Because of his size and his past as a boxer, Sam’s previous lovers have assumed him to be violent and wanted him to be rough with them, but with Hartley, Sam realises he can take the time to give and accept the sort of warmth and caring he’s never been asked for and didn’t realise he needed. Hartley needs someone who can let him move at a pace he’s comfortable with, and Sam is only too happy to allow him to explore his desires and to at last experience the pleasures – both in and out of bed – to be had when two people care for one another.

Unsurprisingly, Hartley’s backstory is a difficult one to read about, and although Ms. Sebastian doesn’t go into gratuitous detail, what she does tell us is sufficient to paint a picture (pun unintentional) of what he went through and to explain why he is so tightly controlled and on edge. He’s also desperately lonely and has, for the past few years, disliked being touched, which of course makes even casual sexual encounters unsatisfying at best and impossible at worst. There’s a weight of sadness about him as he contemplates a life alone which permeates the early part of the novel and provides a pertinent contrast to what we’re shown of Sam’s life – content, surrounded by people who love him, and yet also facing a life without long-term companionship because it’s so difficult to find that special person in a world which says he can’t love as he wants to.

I’m pleased to say that the major criticism I expressed about the last couple of books of Ms. Sebastian’s I read – that there were so many different plotlines going on that none of them felt adequately developed – is not an issue here. The author keeps the romance between Hartley and Sam very much front and centre, and the other issues she touches upon – the racism Sam experiences on a daily basis, the crippling weight of Hartley’s shame, the inflexibility of society and the injustices practiced on the poor by the rich – are subtly and skilfully incorporated into the storyline.

A Gentleman Never Keeps Score is a touching, sexy, and gently humorous read, and I’m thoroughly intrigued by the set up for book three glimpsed at the end. The secondary characters are well-realised and I especially loved Hartley’s adopted ‘family’ – including a three-legged dog, a former prostitute and a young woman whose family disowned her when she became pregnant out of wedlock – whose interactions with him show clearly that Hartley is far from the aloof, cold man he believes he has become. Watching him regain his sense of self and rediscover his capacity for love and affection was truly lovely, and I closed the book with a smile of my face, confident that he and Sam were in it for the long haul. ...more

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Jul 14, 2018 namericanwordcat rated it really liked it

Shelves: outcast, bar, bartender, small-business-owner, historical-romance, historical-romance-series, male-male, inter-racial, fighter-boxer-wrestler, african-american-lead

It took me a bit to relax into this book and trust the Cat Sebastian would be able to give me a happily ever after in this queer interracial historical romance.

She does. The writing is lovely and detailed. Sam and Hart make a wonderful couple.

Hart is in crisis and has to reexamine so many things as his life is upended after he is exposed for being a kept man. He has to come to terms with the truth that through it felt like a choice to support his family, the power dynamics at play make "choice ...more

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Jul 15, 2018 Ami rated it really liked it

Shelves: mm-historical-medieval-steampunk, mm-romance-or-erotica

3.75 stars rounded up

I loved the relationship build -- it felt tender and sweet. Probably because Sam Fox, despite his feature and previous job as boxer, is very patient with Hartley. I also adored the 'family of choice' that Hartley builds alongside his valet, Alf, and the cook Sadie. And there's a three-legged dog here... I should really point it out ^^.

The 'case' with the painting doesn't really go anywhere, it's pretty much buried under Hartley and Sam's relationship, and only appears once i ...more

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Nov 18, 2018 Sam (AMNReader) rated it liked it

Shelves: library, m-m, historical, romance, 3s-are-the-weirdest-rating

A super pleasant, sweet read, but at times the characters felt slightly flat. Maybe I'll have more to say later...

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Jul 15, 2018 Kindling Micky rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018-read, arc-read, edelweiss, mm, disappointed, bored

This is only my second book by Cat Sebastian, the first being a high-rater and this one being an okay read. I do love this era that she writes in and her description and detail certainly transport you to the setting and context very well.

This unlikely coupling of Hartley and Sam crosses social class and race which is the soaring strength of the book. The side characters, most of whom were Sam’s family, friends and compatriots brought depth to the social differences and I enjoyed that. I felt lik ...more

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Aug 07, 2018 Ashley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: anglophilia, class-gender-race, family-saga, lgbtqia, naughty-bits, read-harder-challenge-2018, romantical, ugly-cover-great-book

Cat Sebastian is now six for six. Not a stinker among her published books so far (though to be fair, I haven't *loved* all of them (Unmasked by the Marquess was fun, but didn't hit me in my swooners).

A Gentleman Never Keeps Score, though saddled with a truly execrable cover*, features more of what I love about her books: two fully realized leads who have good chemistry, and who are kept apart not by asinine plot machinations and outside forces, but by character flaws and life circumstances and Cat Sebastian is now six for six. Not a stinker among her published books so far (though to be fair, I haven't *loved* all of them (Unmasked by the Marquess was fun, but didn't hit me in my swooners).

A Gentleman Never Keeps Score, though saddled with a truly execrable cover*, features more of what I love about her books: two fully realized leads who have good chemistry, and who are kept apart not by asinine plot machinations and outside forces, but by character flaws and life circumstances and their own stubbornness. And any time there is a miscommunication between them, they quickly clear it up. How refreshing. (I will note: this was less steamy than I prefer my romance to be, but what it lacked in sexytimes, it made up for in emotional satisfaction, and the depth of the secondary characters.)

*I autobuy this author's books, so I felt no guilt about using this book as the ugly cover square on my Read Harder Challenge. Is it really so difficult to create a non-cringeworthy book cover for a m/m historical romance? The dude on the right who is supposed to be Hartley doesn't even look like he's in the same room with the dude who's supposed to be Sam (very handsome, I'll admit). And what's up with his hair? And the weird pose? I hate everything about it. It's even worse than the cover of her first book, which I didn't think could be topped. And one would THINK that having an ugly cover like this would be a deterrent for customers, and a nice cover an attractant, so what the hell, Avon?? Get it together!

Hartley Sedgwick is the brother of Ben from the first book, and for as fluffy as Ben was, Hartley has angst and dark secrets to spare. Preyed upon in his youth by his godfather, Hartley at the time believed he was gaining favors and influence and security for his brothers by submitting to the much older man's advances, and most of him is still unwilling to believe that none of what happened was his fault, that he was taken advantage of. And now that his past has been outed and he is a social pariah, his servants quitting one by one and no one will see him socially, he still believes he deserves it.

Enter Sam Fox, ex-boxer and the proprietor of The Bell, a public house where free blacks in London congregate and socialize. An old friend of his, Kate, was also taken advantage of by Hartley's godfather, and has repeatedly refused to marry Sam's brother, Nick, though they are obviously in love, because she fears what he would think should the painting she posed for so many years ago be made public. Sam wants Kate and Nick to be happy, so he volunteers to try and track down the painting, which Kate tells him is in Hartley's house, not knowing that Hartley's godfather died years before, leaving the house to Hartley in some sort of inscrutable spiteful gesture (disinheriting his own son in the process). But instead of burgling the house, Sam instead makes the acquaintance of Hartley, and the two decide together to get the paintings back. Hartley's godfather had an entire collection of young people in the nude that he used to hang in his library, the old perv, and though Hartley's picture never hung there, he posed for one nevertheless.

Sam and Hartley are drawn to each other pretty much immediately. Sam is large and handsome and kind, which is like catnip to the kindness starved Hartley. And Hartley's obvious trauma (he can't stand to be touched) pulls at Sam's heartstrings, even as Hartley's wealth and status is a huge turn off for him. The two slowly make their way to each other, and spoiler alert, they do get a HEA.

It was satisfying to see Hartley grow so much over the course of the book, realizing that the trappings of society he clung to so hard are the very thing making him miserable. Sam grows, too, overturning his ideas about Hartley as a wealthy, spoiled, and lazy nobleman, and learning to accept help when it is offered. Sebastian navigates the racial and class issues with ease; it's never the focus, but both characters question their own assumptions about the other, until they feel equals with one another. I also loved Sadie and Alf (Hartley's unconventional servants) and Kate and Nick (Sam's family). It's pretty clear as well that Sebastian is setting up Will (another Sedgwick brother) and Martin (the disinherited son) for the next book, for which I can't wait. Martin is closeted as hell.

And once again I find myself with no more new Cat Sebastian books to read.

Read Harder Challenge 2018: A book with a cover you hate. ...more

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Sep 05, 2017 Didi rated it liked it

Shelves: arc-netgalley-edelweiss, historical-medieval-time-travel, lqbtqia, interracial-multiracial, m-m, romance, series

Considering the time period, “A Gentleman Never Keeps Score” is an interesting piece as opposites attract story. Not only were Sam and Hartley were of different class, Sam was also black, a non European ethnic minority. This was liable to cause trouble not only if exposed to others, but between the men involved as stuff involving feelings clashed with gap and differences was.

Pub owner Sam Fox was a kind and sweet man. He wore his heart on his sleeves; practically went out of his way to help nee Considering the time period, “A Gentleman Never Keeps Score” is an interesting piece as opposites attract story. Not only were Sam and Hartley were of different class, Sam was also black, a non European ethnic minority. This was liable to cause trouble not only if exposed to others, but between the men involved as stuff involving feelings clashed with gap and differences was.

Pub owner Sam Fox was a kind and sweet man. He wore his heart on his sleeves; practically went out of his way to help needy people. His first sight of Hartley prodded him into taking the beautiful and unusual gentleman under his wings. Without a doubt, Sam was the heart of the story, the kind of character that readers would love.

I thought Hartley was a bit annoying when he was first seen on “It Takes Two to Tumble.” While it had been implied the “task” he had assumed for the shake of his siblings, the feat itself wasn’t really divulged. It wasn’t totally exposed here too, but readers would get the gist from Hart’s recollection and bits and pieces thrown in the story. Readers certainly could read between the lines the horridness young Hartley suffered and what effect that experience left him. This warmed me to him a bit, as much as generosity to the less fortunate people in his life; although his insistence of keeping appearance to the extent of burying his head in the sand and ignoring his loved ones’ concern got me nuts!

For all Hart’s issue with men’s touch and proximity, I got to applaud Sam for his patience in teaching him in intimacy. Although, that served as double-edged sword for me, too ...because: the flip side of that was the many sexual scenes ranged from mild ones then gradually developed to quite raunchy scenes. I know, I know, what’s romance story without the expression of love itself. Noted, but love is also not only about sex and too much of it could be a turnoff for me.

Fortunately, Sam’s typical self-restrain and caring nature more than made the combo of shortcomings and steamy scenes’ excessiveness to me. I’m glad that Hart also realized - IN TIME - that he had to stop living in limbo before Sam and happiness slipped through his fingers.

There was another issue that bugged me about Hart’s debacle which had to do with a certain someone (also made a brief appearance on “It Takes Two to Tumble”). For one, it left a rather lot of thing to explore for the next book of “Seducing the Sedgwicks,” yet at the same I felt as if there should be more hands shown in this entry, too to heighten the plot. I’m sure the author had planned and plotted otherwise, but that’s just the way I feel (the main question for me was how the heck not one, but three people!, not realizing someone there for weeks, months(!) even. That’s crazy). Nevertheless, “A Gentleman Never Keeps Score” is a good addition to the series. If nothing, Sam was a good addition to the family. Hart couldn’t choose any better! ;-)

Advanced copy is kindly given by the author/publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jul 29, 2018 haletostilinski rated it really liked it

Shelves: forbidden-romance, happy-ending, historical, mm-romance, no-cheating, romance, secret-relatoinship

3.5 stars rounded up

For some reason I'm not quite finding the magic of this series that I've found with this author's other books.

I liked this, I enjoyed it, but there was something missing. Maybe that Sam and Hartley didn't have a ton of passion, or at least it didn't come across on the page. The chemistry just wasn't really there for me.

And I get after what Hartley went through, them taking time with anything sexual. I don't mind that - but (view spoiler) 3.5 stars rounded up

For some reason I'm not quite finding the magic of this series that I've found with this author's other books.

I liked this, I enjoyed it, but there was something missing. Maybe that Sam and Hartley didn't have a ton of passion, or at least it didn't come across on the page. The chemistry just wasn't really there for me.

And I get after what Hartley went through, them taking time with anything sexual. I don't mind that - but (view spoiler).

I did enjoy Hartley's character development and how he got to where he is at the end versus where he was at the beginning, and I enjoyed Sam a lot, he was such a kind man who mainly wanted to help others. And I did love how his kindness through Hartley for a loop, like he didn't know how to deal with it. Mainly because a lot of people aren't as kind as Sam, unfortunately.

But together...they didn't click that much. They had their moments, actually they had some really sweet moments of true caring for one another that I enjoyed. But I still didn't quite feel enough between these two.

And also, of the smut that we got, it wasn't very drawn out or detailed. It was very...quick and over with and then that's it. I always feel that if you're writing a romance book and you choose to include a sex scene, then you should take your time with it or not have it in there at all, because honestly when there isn't much feeling or chemistry to sex scenes then it's like they're not in there in the first place *shrug*.

I enjoyed the cast of characters in this book, but while Sam and Hartley had their moments, they mostly let me down as a couple. And the story was interesting at times, fun to get into even, but I also felt something lacking with it...there just wasn't enough.

I kind of felt this with the first book too, so I don't know. I've had hits and misses with this author and while this series isn't a full on miss or anything...they're not exactly wins either. So it's a middle of the rode rating for me.

Some might feel differently and it might all come down to how the story reads for you, if you feel chemistry between the characters, etc, but it just wasn't amazing for me. ...more

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Mar 13, 2018 Lyra rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, lgbtqia, historical, poc-mcs, romance, favorites

The cover . . . this book will be mine!

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Jul 22, 2018 Andrea rated it liked it

Shelves: lgbt, historical-romance

Not my favorite book by this author. It is, as always, wonderfully written, with well fleshed-out characters who feel real and believable, and the love between the characters is palpable and sweet.

I honestly don't know why I didn't love this more. There was little drama, the story focuses on character-growth, and there is no one who upset me or was in any way annoying me. I loved how sweet Hartley finally got to step out of the shadow he had been living under and realized there was more to life ...more

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Aug 13, 2018 Alison rated it really liked it

Shelves: queer, historical, my-e-things, lgbtq

3.5 stars. Very enjoyable. The romance is lovely and the characters are engaging. Bonus points to the author for having a lovely black MC and on the cover, as well. I didn't connect with this one as much, though, and it's not one of my favourites by this author. Sebastian sets a high bar, so it's still worthwhile and enjoyable, but it didn't wow me like her other books have. I enjoy Cat Sebastian's books so much and I look forward to the next one.

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Jul 07, 2018 Alisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: zz-2018, broken-damaged-boys, historical, interracial-couple, m-m-read, night-owl

I liked this a lot. Full review to come.

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Jul 16, 2018 ♥ Rebecca ♥ rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult, historical-fiction, m-m, romance, own-ebook

Hartley and Sam are such sweethearts. I love them. And this cover is pretty hot!

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Jun 13, 2018 Melissa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romantic-reads, to-review

Sam Fox is the sweetest man ever invented, I swear. He’s such a cinnamon roll. I love this book. The way he and Hartley actually talk through their issues and misunderstandings is just A+. Also there is a scene late in the book that just filled my heart to bursting.

Small trigger warning, Hartley was abused/coerced as a young man, alluded to in the previous book, It Takes Two to Tumble, and clarified here, but Sebastian does not go into specifics. Just FYI if you need to know ahead of time.

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Jul 14, 2018 Elley Murray rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, blog-tour, brought-together-by-a-scandal, edelweiss, lgbtqia, historical-romance, mm-romance, opposites-attract, regency-romance, romance

For starters - Content Warning from Author: This book includes a main character who was sexually abused in the past; abuse happens off page but is alluded to.

I loved the first book in this series, and It Takes Two to Tumble was so low angst and just warm and cozy and glad. I really enjoyed A Gentleman Never Keeps Score as well, but HOLY ANGST, BATMAN, is there a very different tone and level of seriousness to this novel than the first in the series!

Hartley and Sam are both dealing with some maj For starters - Content Warning from Author: This book includes a main character who was sexually abused in the past; abuse happens off page but is alluded to.

I loved the first book in this series, and It Takes Two to Tumble was so low angst and just warm and cozy and glad. I really enjoyed A Gentleman Never Keeps Score as well, but HOLY ANGST, BATMAN, is there a very different tone and level of seriousness to this novel than the first in the series!

Hartley and Sam are both dealing with some major things. Sam Fox is a black man and former ex-pugilist (that means boxer!) who runs a bar that is basically a second home to other black people in Regency London to go to in order to have a save space, fellowship, and maybe a helping hand if they need one. He lives amidst a lot of suspicion and prejudice, but carries himself with pride and is this deep, strong river of good man. He is also very careful not to give the (white) constable who has it in for him any reasons to shut down his bar or look too closely into his life.

While Sam is surrounded by people who love and care about him and basically exists as this warm beacon of hope, Harley is cold and alone. He lives in a house bequeathed to him by his godfather (who was a human piece of garbage). While Sam is someone at the same time a warmly blazing hearth fire and a deep peaceful river, Harley is cold, knotted up, and shriveled in on himself. He is so filled with self-loathing he can't even allow his brothers to love him, and it's so sad and breaks my heart. He goes for walks alone in the odd hours of twilight when no one else is around and it's just so sad. And then coming home one night he bumps into Sam...

I love the relationship between Sam and Hartley. It grows in a way that's so heart-rending to watch, but Sam is the perfect (patient, kind, good, wise...) man to help Hartley with his layers of self-loathing and fear. The side characters are also a treat, and I love Sam's family (both blood and made-family) as well as Hartley's brothers. The relationships Hartley develops with Alf and Sadie are just great, and I love when Sam tries to do things to annoy Hartley and is so surprised by the man Hartley really is underneath his layers of clothing and polish and snobby manners.

I wish I could go more into what I love about this book, but everything I want to say comes way too close to spoilers territory. I love that this is a look at a London that is not totally whitewashed and pristine, and instead shows more diversity (THAT DID EXIST AT THE TIME, ROMANCELANDIA! I'm looking at you!) This was a bit higher on the angst scale than I usually like, but it pulled me in and held my heart tight in a steely grasp throughout so I was unable to put it down. Cat Sebastian has now enslaved me for life.

This is the second book in the Seducing the Sedgwicks series, but can be read as a stand alone. There are not really spoilers for the first book, and you're not missing anything vital to the story by reading A Gentleman Never Keeps Score first. That being said, definitely also read the first book in the series, It Takes Two to Tumble, because Ben is like a male version of Pollyanna and that books made my heart so glad. ...more

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Jul 31, 2018 Vanna rated it really liked it

Shelves: emotional-angst, historical-romance, hot-medium, mm-romance, series

3.5 stars! I have loved all of Cat Sebastian's books; especially the first of the series "It takes two to tumble" and therefore I was a tad bit disappointed with this book. It had everything as far as drama is concerned; MCs who come from two different worlds of wealth and status, true angst in the form of past abuse and tragedy and an uncertain future due to the class distinction and taboo nature of their relationship. However, it still didn't quite measure up to the kind of build-up and story ...more

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Jul 15, 2018 Santy rated it really liked it

Shelves: good-series, good-steam, historical, laugh-out-loud, m-m, low-angst, part-of-series, read-2018, sweet

Cat Sebastian always delivers and this was no different!

Initially, I wondered how the pairing of Hartley with Sam(a POC) was going to be done especially because of the time period but needn’t have worried because she handled everything with her usual skilfully.

Sam helped Hartley overcome his demons and loneliness and Hartley Provided Sam with the unconditional love and companionship he desired deep down. They obviously had their ups and downs before they got their HEA but getting there was the ...more

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Jul 18, 2018 Calila rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: zzzzz-read-in-2018, ebook, historical, m-m, m-m-actor-dancer-model, m-m-artist-photo-writer, m-m-business-owner, m-m-criminal-mercenary, m-m-culinary-waiter, series

I really enjoyed this but it feels a touch incomplete or unfinished to me. I don't know exactly why though, everything is resolved pretty much (except the set up for the next book as expected). I liked both characters, I loved them together. Sam is so perfect for Hartley, he's exactly what Hartley needs. I don't know that I can say the reverse but I don't know that it matters because Sam seems pretty happy with things. The found family Hartley and Sam build together is so sweet and I love all th ...more

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Sep 15, 2018 Sophie rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2018, romance, fiction

Delightful.

I especially liked the depiction of Hartley's sexual trauma that led to an aversion to touch, and the ways he and Sam got around that restriction and built the trust needed for Hartley to feel safe. I also liked that Sam found himself liking certain restrictions because it took him out of his usual sexual role. A+ porn including historically accurate glass dildo! Also, romantic feels, and a doggy.

IDK how realistic it is that a black dude and a white dude would be able to have a happy ...more

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Jul 10, 2018 River Benson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: july-18

Of all the things Cat Sebastian does exceptionally well, her ability to create a community and not just a couple with all of her books is one of my favorite. The servants and siblings and friends all have their own lives and motivations and histories, and it makes for so much texture and so much truth. I've loved her previous books almost equally, but The Lawrence Browne Affair has always had the slight edge as favorite. I think this one might have taken its place.

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