Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE: The Gentleman’s Gentleman

SERIES:  His Lordship’s Realm

AUTHOR: Samantha SoRelle

PUBLISHER: Balcarres Books LLC

LENGTH: 329 pages

RELEASE DATE: February 29, 2024

BLURB:

Despite his noble family, a life of idle indulgence has never suited Gil Charleton. Fortunately, working as the Earl of Crawford’s estate manager requires the same caution, care, and charm he already uses to hide his true desires. On a discreet visit to a pub catering to men like himself, he’s dismayed to see the earl’s imprudent valet. At least the reckless, flirtatious Jarrett doesn’t see him in return.

Jarrett Welch takes any chance to have a little fun—or a lot of fun. But when a man he flirted with winds up dead, he can’t give his alibi. After all, that kind of fun between men carries the same sentence as murder.

Gil knows Jarrett is innocent, but it’s his own life on the line if he comes forward. The only other way to save him is to find the real killer before their shared secret can be revealed.

Working together to clear Jarrett’s name, the attraction between them becomes impossible to fight. But the more the mystery unravels, the more it becomes clear that one of them will have to choose which is more important: his love… or his life.

REVIEW:

Oh my!  This was another exciting ride from this author.  I adore these historicals set in Scotland.  Although we don’t have the Earl and Dominick on page, there presence is definitely felt in this delightful spin-off series starring the Earl’s erstwhile valet Jarrett and his estate overseer Gil Charleton, the second son of the second son.  So the spare spare.  Gil really likes his job taking care of the Earl’s estate matter and he considers the land his home.  He’s always been flustered by Jarrett who is a bit too bold and unpredictable.  It’s clear that his tastes run similar to Gil’s – for other men – because he does a terrible job hiding it.

Jarrett barks up the wrong tree one night at the local pub and he runs out after his mark yells at him.  He takes off for the closest establishment that caters to his desires – some hours away by horseback.  Unbeknownst to him, Gil is also a the Cross Keys – although much more discreetly than Jarrett.  Gil leaves though when he realizes that he’d rather by with Jarrett than a former lover who also is at the pub.   Jarrett doesn’t get home until very very late and so he doesn’t want to wake the household so he sleeps in the shed that the Earl and Dominick have given him dominion over.  Before he even has a chance to finish his breakfast though after coming back to the house, Davey, the stablemaster’s boy comes running in saying he’s found a body at the old chapel grounds.  Hmmmmm.

When it turns out to be the same man that Jarrett had propositioned at the pub and the pub owner tells everyone that Jarrett quarreled with the man, well they’ve decided they have their murderer and lock him up.  This doesn’t sit well with Gil because he KNOWS that Jarrett couldn’t have possibly been there at the time of the murder.  He can’t let an innocent man go to the gallows for a murder he didn’t commit.  On the other hand, his providing the alibi that Jarrett needs will just end up with them both hanged.  So he decides to solve the murder himself and make sure that an innocent man isn’t hanged.

Of course trying to figure out who the man is, why he was there and what the motive for murder is proves to be a lot more convoluted than either Jarrett or Gil bargain for.  There is Magistrate Cranbee who wants things wrapped up quickly and tidily and he’s also close to Gil’s family.  When it becomes clear that Jarrett is being framed for the murder, it takes some pretty smart sleuthing on the part of both men to try to get to the heart of the matter.  That turns out to be a lot more difficult to do and where should Gil’s loyalty be?  And why should Jarrett not just run if he gets the chance?

Oh this was a total delight!  I loved the previous series that introduced these two secondary characters.  Gil is a charmer who is able to keep his proclivities under wraps and Jarrett is a bit of a hothead.  They couldn’t be more different in so many ways, but they really work.  Gil is so lovable and he’s got such a good head on his shoulders – even he’s never really been appreciated.  He listened to Jarrett and believed him.  Jarrett’s situation is not of his own making and while he doesn’t approve of all of Jarrett’s antics, he doesn’t deserve to die for being young and impulsive.  The mystery was well done and the epilogue perfect!  If you love historicals and murder mysteries, I think this book will be a wonderful surprise.  Recommended.

RATING: 

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