A delightful romp filled with KJ’s signature tight plot, great character insight, and delightful cast. This is one of one of her more cozy stories, but that’s not to say there aren’t stakes or conflict. KJ’s books are always immaculately edited and constructed, with deep feeling and rich historical detail and this is no exception. We’ve waited a long time for a Duke and this one is a delight.

Such a wonderful book - Sev / Cass is delightful and Diazell his perfect match. Swoony, funny and a little sad - perfect. Kj Charles once again proves why she is one of my always pre-order authors.

As usual, KJ Charles doesn't disappoint. It was a pleasure to meet with Cassiel and Daizell and follow their journey as they try to track down a thief. Cassiel is conscious of his privilege, and wants to discover the world and himself during a month of freedom gained through a wager. Daizell drift through life, doing is best after having seen his reputation destroyed.
They meet in an inn, Cassiel, travelling incognito, asks Daizell for help against a reward, which Daizell accepts, intrigued and needing the money.
What ensued is a sweet, beautiful, entertaining romance, where each characters grow and change as they face various challenges and have to find their own place in the world. Cassiel is so quiet and soft, but still strong, lovely. He needs to be more than the Duke and lands himself in trouble. I found him so endearing. Daizell is as much endearing in his own way, outgoing but hurt, wanting, needing to trust. I loved them.
The plot moves in a good pace while leaving place for quiet moments for the characters to witness their feeling grow, creating a believable romance with a solid plot as a scaffholding.
Lovely !

If you are looking for a fun and fast-paced romance book that keeps you engaged, this is the book for you. Cassian and Daizell are two amazing characters to follow around, and learning more about them as their romance develops was fun to do. The pacing in this book was very good, and it keeps the story moving in a way that doesn't bore the reader but also doesn't rush their developing relationship. I love finding queer romances that are based in this time period, and this book didn't disappoint.

This novel, set in the captivating Regency era, is the second installment in the Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune series, promising readers a rich and immersive experience.

The premise is that the Duke of Severn is robbed after a brief and mysterious encounter. While he keeps the details of this encounter hushed, his family relentlessly mocks him for his inability to navigate the world sans the privileges and supports that come with his title. He enters a bet where he will live as the common man for a month, buying him time to track down his stolen ring and perhaps sew his oats. It is during this bet that Severn, aka Cassian, meets Daizell. Daize is a disgraced gentleman living on his ability to do silhouette portraiture. Cassian hires him to help him track down his encounter and the ring.

The story is a thrilling adventure, as Cassian and Daize face numerous challenges in their relentless pursuit of the stolen ring. Along this perilous journey, their relationship deepens, adding a layer of emotional suspense. Fans of KJ Charles will surely be captivated by this novel, which is a rich tapestry of adventure, class, social mores, love, and suspense.

Both Cassian and Daizell have experienced the blessings and constraints of their societal positions. They have also tasted the bitter-sweetness of the other side, with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Now, it is up to them to seize control and shape their lives according to their own desires.

The Duke of Severn is young, bossed around by his entire family, and something of a non-entity in society. During an - ahem - encounter with a young man, he gets all his things stolen, including the ancestral signet ring. He doesn't tell his family that it's gone, but makes a bet with his cousin that he can travel with "only" 100 pounds and a small travel bag and he sets out to track down the thief.

He has NO idea what he's doing, gets pick-pocketed of 20 pounds on his first stage coach journey, and at an inn meets Daizell Charnage, a boy he knew slightly at Eton whose life has been in a disastrous downward spiral ever since. Daizell doesn't recognize him, so the Duke calls himself Mr. Cassian. He offers Daizell 50 pounds to help him track down the thief and they set off.

This is a road trip book with coaches and inns and horses. And card games and bets and elopements. And murder (in the past), abandonment, and kidnapping. A few nights in jail, a stage crash, lots of thievery, and a Big Bad who's behind an awful lot of misery for an awful lot of people.

This is also a book about growing up. It's only a few weeks, but Cassian grows enormously in confidence and personality and self-reliance. Daizell stops letting his life spiral and chooses to DO something about it.

And, of course, it's a m/m romance and it's by KJ Charles, so there's sex and love and betrayal and so on.

It's a very satisfying read, but on a re-read, I'm going to have to pull out a map of the UK and figure out where they're going.