A Gentleman’s Position (LenaLena’s Review)

Title: A Gentleman’s Position (Society of Gentlemen #3)
Author: KJ Charles
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Genre(s): Historical Romance
Page Count: 253
Reviewed by: Lenalena
Heat Level:  3 flames out of 5
Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5
Blurb:

Power, privilege, and the rigid rules of class leave two hearts yearning for connection in the sizzling new Society of Gentlemen novel from K. J. Charles.

Among his eccentric though strictly principled group of friends, Lord Richard Vane is the confidant on whom everyone depends for advice, moral rectitude, and discreet assistance. Yet when Richard has a problem, he turns to his valet, a fixer of unparalleled genius—and the object of Richard’s deepest desires. If there is one rule a gentleman must follow, it is never to dally with servants. But when David is close enough to touch, the rules of class collide with the basest sort of animal instinct: overpowering lust.

For David Cyprian, burglary and blackmail are as much in a day’s work as bootblacking—anything for the man he’s devoted to. But the one thing he wants for himself is the one thing Richard refuses to give: his heart. With the tension between them growing to be unbearable, David’s seemingly incorruptible master has left him no choice. Putting his finely honed skills of seduction and manipulation to good use, he will convince Richard to forget all about his well-meaning objections and give in to sweet, sinful temptation.

A Gentleman’s Position is an excellent m/m Regency. It’s not a standalone, you will have no clue what is going on unless you’ve read The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh, A Fashionable Indulgence and A Seditious Affair (that is not a hardship). It’s probably the best of the three, too, even if it seems a little short. But maybe that was just because it was such an effortless read.

Charles has a good balance between writing plot and writing characters and neither of them get short shrift. I particularly like how she doesn’t cover everything in unicorns and butterflies, while wilfully ignoring the fact that homosexual relationships in this time period are punishable by death. Too many times do these kind of books have a overly rosy end where the relationship is silently condoned and protected from the outside world by loving friends and family, who choose to turn a blind eye. The plot in this books deals with the real and present danger of being exposed. Probably the most touching part is the realization that Richard can never and will never tell his brother about the man he has chosen to spend his life with. Even though he desperately wants to. It hurts.

The only criticism I can think of is that Charles sometimes get a little repetitive with the arguments between the main characters. Apart from that, this book is a welcome addition to the m/m historical genre.

Also: these books are ridiculously cheap. Get them.

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