Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel
SERIES: The Doomsday Books
AUTHOR: K.J. Charles
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Casablanca
LENGTH: 333 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 19, 2023
BLURB:
Bridgerton goes Gothic in this sweeping Regency romance by celebrated author KJ Charles.
Major Rufus d’Aumesty has unexpectedly become the Earl of Oxney, master of a remote Norman manor on the edge of the infamous Romney Marsh. There he’s beset on all sides, his position contested both by his greedy uncle and by Luke Doomsday, son of a notorious smuggling clan.
The earl and the smuggler should be natural enemies, but cocksure, enragingly competent Luke is a trained secretary and expert schemer—exactly the sort of man Rufus needs by his side. Before long, Luke becomes an unexpected ally…and the lover Rufus had never hoped to find.
But Luke came to Stone Manor with an ulterior motive, one he’s desperate to keep hidden even from the lord he can’t resist. As the lies accumulate and family secrets threaten to destroy everything they hold dear, master and man find themselves forced to decide whose side they’re really on…and what they’re willing to do for love.
REVIEW:
Note: This is the second book in the series. While it could be read as a standalone I guess, it’s ever so much better to read it after The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen which introduces the Romney Marsh, the Doomsday gang and Luke and his family.
This book picks up thirteen years after the events of The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen. Luke, one of the Doomsdays is now a grown man and looking for work as a secretary. He’s back on the marsh and ends up at the home of Major Rufus d’Aumasty who has finally been recognized as the Earl of Oxney. This is not a title he wants, but his awful family has done their best to wrest it from him via treachery. The are furious when Rufus hires a man who is tied to the local smuggling crew but they are hoping that Luke can help them discover the evidence to overturn the awarding of the title to Rufus.
Rufus is in dire need of a secretary. Firstly, he has trouble keeping track of all the issues with the estate. Turns out that the previous Earl had left things in a state, and while the title struggle was going on, the people who had been asking for assistance had received nothing. Building were in disrepair and frankly the whole mood on the estate was sour. Conrad, Rufus’s Uncle cared not. All he wants is to get the earldom. Conrad, his wife and his grown children have al been living on the estate anticipating that they would inherit. Needless to say they are more than a little put out that Rufus has been named the Earl and they are absolutely determined to get it for themselves.
Rufus and Luke work well together. And when Rufus finds Luke up and about in the middle of the night, well they give in to temptation 😉 They had been dancing around each other for some time and it is clear that there is an attraction. Luke only asks that Rufus not ask about his scar. They work together to try to set the estate to rights and fix all that has been neglected for some time. Of course they have to maneuver around the family, keeping their claims at bay.
Things are going well when Conrad and the butler catch Luke someplace he isn’t supposed to be. This forces Rufus to ask Luke some hard questions. When he just refuses to answer, well what choice does Rufus have? He can’t allow this to stand. What really are Luke’s motivation for being at the manor? Who else knows why he is there? Oh what a tangled web we weave . . .
When I saw that this book was going to be about a grown up Luke I could not wait! What on earth would the young Doomsday who had been so abused be like as an educated adult? Sir Gareth took him in and made sure he got an education and then he returns to the Marsh? There is so much going on in this story and it’s absolutely delicious! Luke has grown up. Clearly, though, his past is never far from his mind – or his countenance 😉 What he finds in Rufus is a man of integrity. This is a quality in short supply on the Marsh and certainly in short supply at the manor house. Rufus’s Uncle is going everything in his power to thwart the new Earl in carrying out his duties. It apparently isn’t bad enough that they original legal wrangling took months. Now Conrad is grasping at straws and willing to do ANYTHING to make sure Rufus loses and he wins back what he considers to be his. Sadly this little drama was set up by the previous generations. The lengths that Conrad is willing to go to, however, are far more dangerous than even Rufus realizes. Luke however? He’s not fooled.
Luke and Rufus are perfect for each other. But that doesn’t mean that their path is straight and easy. Luke keeps a lot hidden and his reasons do not become clear until much later in the story. He has forged a relationship with Rufus. When things go sideways though, there are apologies to be made. And a lot of growing up to do. And maybe, just maybe the past will finally be put to rest. For both Luke and Rufus.
The turnaround in this story was a bit headspinning. I really didn’t know where it was going which kept me turning pages as quickly as possible. I love the way the author brought in some little noticed elements of the previous books. I loved seeing Gareth and Joss again. The setting once again becomes another character in the book and series. It’s a fascinating way of like. The Doomsdays and the other residents of the Marsh certainly have a long and stories history. I don’t know if K.J. Charles has any more books planned for this series, but I’m sure anyone who has read these two books would be more than happy to read any new offerings. This was a wonderful and entertaining roller coaster ride with some fabulous surprises, some call outs to the previous story and some engaging and unique characters to provide a delightful story. Highly recommended. I honestly liked it even more than the first book 🙂 Read it. You won’t be disappointed.
RATING: 