Reviewed by Ro
TITLE: A Wounded Gentleman
AUTHOR: Gabby Grey
NARRATOR: Michael Ferraiuolo
PUBLISHER: Gabbi Grey
LENGTH: 1 hour, 54 minutes
RELEASE DATE: April 15, 2026
BLURB: Henry
I’ve returned home from the war in France one-armed and defeated. While I was fighting at Waterloo, my father, brother, and sister-in-law all died, leaving me alone to raise my baby niece. I’m a broken man, and this new battle feels impossible to win. Only the assistance of my valet Percy, who refuses to leave my employ, offers me any hope.
Percy
My feelings for Henry are even more intense now than when we kissed all those years ago. Since those carefree days, I’ve put aside my feelings for him, and I’m now acting as his missing right arm. I take care of his needs, and his niece’s, while suppressing my own. As our intimacy grows, I can’t help but wonder if he might return my affections after all. But our respective ranks and the dangers for men of our kind form an impenetrable wall between us.
REVIEW:
Henry has been fighting at war and the book begins with his return home. Now he is not only the “broken” returning soldier but he is a lord following the death of first his father, then his brother, followed by his sister-in-law just two months after having her baby girl. So now he is a lord and responsible for a baby after having lost his right arm and pieces of his leg. He also harbors hatred towards that brother and sister-in-law. Percy was the son of a servant and, in their younger years, a good friend to Henry, and now has become his valet. Percy is so lovely, supportive and kind.
The book is told in alternating points of view of Percy and Henry, we get to see the feelings of both. Percy has been in love with Henry for years. He is honest and sometimes blunt with Henry and doesn’t see Henry as the lord but as himself. He mentions that Henry’s father’s first wife was white but his second, Henry’s mother, was black. He reminds Henry that the wealth and position opened doors for him that would have been closed to others, so Henry needs to be there for Isabella, his baby niece, and the tenants and farmers. “Although black men were free in England they were certainly not respected to the same degree as others.” Percy has loved Henry since they were 13, and the skin colors mattered not at all.
This is a short audio, less than two hours, and I so wished it had been longer. There is a reason behind Henry’s hatred for his brother and SIL, and I felt for him. I loved that despite now being a lord and the master of the estate, he is immediately back to his friendship with Percy, asking him to call him Henry in private. Which he has to remind Percy of repeatedly. Henry really isn’t as grumpy as you would think. He has been hurt in the past, injured in the war, and somewhat unsure now. After the debacle at the dinner party, I felt so badly for him. I loved when he was playing with Isabella, he was so worried about hurting her.
Narration by Michael Ferraiuolo was wonderful to listen to. I thought the accents were spot on and he differentiates each person well. I will say – there is a need for some suspension of belief here, knowing how men loving men was viewed. As mentioned, this is short so there isn’t a lot of time to get into past things, but it worked for me.
RATING: ![]()
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