From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen (The Doomsday Books, #1)

K.J. Charles

Start date: May 1, 2023

Finish date: May 31, 2023

Discussion: Book of the Month Club

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Book of the Month Club

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What Members Thought

Mar 07, 2023 Allison rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, audio, arc, 2023

**ARC provided by Netgalley with the understanding an unbiased review would be written.**

4.5 stars rounded up.

Audio: grudging three stars

One of the things I love about Charles's books is that the amount of research done comes through so clearly without it being obvious. The sense of place is one of the most important parts of this book and Romney Marsh is definitely brought to life; from the smallest inhabitants to the most dangerous, including the sea, I felt like I was living on the Marsh whil **ARC provided by Netgalley with the understanding an unbiased review would be written.**

4.5 stars rounded up.

Audio: grudging three stars

One of the things I love about Charles's books is that the amount of research done comes through so clearly without it being obvious. The sense of place is one of the most important parts of this book and Romney Marsh is definitely brought to life; from the smallest inhabitants to the most dangerous, including the sea, I felt like I was living on the Marsh while reading this book.

Gareth's sense of abandonment and loneliness is so heart wrenching and I can't decide if it makes it worse or better that his father didn't care about anyone, not only Gareth. I did find it hard to understand why Gareth wanted to follow in his father's footsteps since I would distance myself completely from anyone who treated me that way. But I do see how it made him change his view of Romney Marsh, from somewhere harsh and forbidding to beautiful and wonderous. Joss's life exhausts me, so much pressure and no happiness for himself until he meets Gareth. I honestly pretty much hated most of his family, his mother in particular pissed me off endlessly. However, Luke, Sophy, and Grandda were wonderful. Joss and Gareth were very sweet together, which isn't really normally the case with Charles's characters, they are often very fierce in all aspects of their lives, and while Joss was often fierce in other parts of his life he was almost entirely sweet and caring with Gareth. They filled each other's empty spots perfectly and I loved watching Gareth show Joss parts of his deeply loved home that he'd never noticed before.

This does have the usual twisty plot that is always one of the best parts of Charles's books. I can't say I didn't see some of the plot, but other parts were well hidden enough that I didn't expect them. The only thing I missed was the way she normally plays with language, the big scene where everything is going on at once and everyone is talking at cross purposes, and that I'm always left amused and amazed by. But. The fact is that the use of language is more peppered throughout because the accents and word use in the Marsh is so very specific. I also don't want to say that I wasn't on the edge of my seat at many points in this book. The whole scene with Gareth near the end and the parts leading up to that had me holding my breath and my heart racing.

I think this will, like most of Charles's books, be in my reread/listen roster. I not only loved the sense of place, but the love between two people who hadn't had the opportunity for it before they found each other was gorgeous.

Audio: ... it's ... okay. I really wanted to listen because I was hoping for joy with the Kentish accent, which I knew finding a capable narrator had been challenging. Unfortunately, while there clearly was some of that, not as much as I'd hoped, but I'm guessing it was smoothed out for everyone who would have found it difficult to understand, but the rest was just okay. The narrator did something bizarre with Asa's accent, which had nothing to do with a southern or Georgia (the state) accent at all. He basically made Asa sound like he was not very bright. But a bigger problem was that throughout he would Speak. Each. Word. Slowly. And. Specifically. It was annoying. So, not an overall win Unfortunately. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

May 25, 2023 Calathea rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, m-m, audiobook

Loved it. That's it. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jun 18, 2023 Averin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Warning: Total. Geek. Love.

Long ago and far beyond, I discovered the Cinque Ports, an admittedly obscure moment in English maritime history. Truly geeky. Many years later, I read this book and almost went back down that rabbit hole again. But author KJ Charles spins research and history with suspense so well I did not descend into geekiness again.

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 09, 2023 Antonella rated it really liked it

4.5
Wonderful story as usual, also very romantic. Slightly too much sex for my taste though. I'm looking forward to the second book in the series. ...more

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