Review: The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by K.J. Charles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gareth Inglis lives a quiet life of desperation, clerk in his uncle's law practice, his only pleasure his meetings with like-minded gentlemen at the Three Ducks pub in London. Recently he has met a man there 'Kent' who knows him only as 'London' and they have developed a strong affection for each other. Then everything changes, his uncle sacks him, his lover announces he is returning home to Kent, and he discovers that his father has died, making him Sir Gareth and leaving him Tench House in Romney Marsh in Kent, an 'aunt', and a half-sister of whom he knew nothing.

Walking on the Marshes one night looking for nocturnal beetles, Gareth sees what is clearly a group of smugglers and their ponies laden with contraband. Although his aunt tells him that everyone on the Marshes turns a blind eye to the smugglers, and their leader Joss Doomsday, and in return they get their silks, brandy and tea, Gareth is unconvinced and when two of the smugglers get into an argument he realises that one of them is a girl he's seen before in Dymchurch. Gareth mentions this to his family, and his sister tells her beau, who happens to be a Revenue officer and the next thing Gareth knows he is being asked to testify against the girl, Sophy Doomsday in court. Twice messengers from Joss Doomsday suggest he should not testify, or ask him to meet Joss but Gareth refuses to be intimidated, until he stands up in court to testify and Joss Doomsday walks into court and it is none other than 'Kent' from the Three Ducks!

After resolving their differences Joss and Gareth secretly resume their relationship, but it seems that Gareth's father was involved in some shady dealings and his business partners think Gareth is involved.

I only recently discovered KJ Charles' books and I love them, so when I saw the Kindle version of this book had been reduced, snapping it up was a no-brainer. Love, love, loved it, loved Gareth, loved Joss, loved seeing young Luke. Also, as I live in Kent, it was lovely seeing places like Dymchurch and Rye in a book.

Thoroughly recommended.

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