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Once beloved by London's fashionable elite, Hartley Sedgwick has become a recluse after a spate of salacious gossip exposed his most-private secrets. Rarely venturing from the house whose inheritance is a daily reminder of his downfall, he's captivated by the exceedingly handsome man who seeks to rob him. Since retiring from the boxing ring, Sam Fox has made his pub, The Bell, into a haven for those in his Free Black community. But when his best friend Kate implores him to find and destroy a scandalously revealing painting of her, he agrees. Sam would do anything to protect those he loves, even if it means stealing from a wealthy gentleman. But when he encounters Hartley, he soon finds himself wanting to steal more than just a painting from the lovely, lonely man-he wants to steal his heart. Content Warning from Author: This book includes a main character who was sexually abused in the past; abuse happens off page but is alluded to.… (more)
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I adored Sam and Hartley and the lovable--if somewhat unconventional--family the two end up surrounded by at the novel's end. I always seem to start Ms. Sebastian's books a little unsure--at least one of her main characters always appears to be on the prickly and hard-to-get-to-know side of things--but before I even realize what she's done, she's swept me into the story and I can't imagine that I ever thought they weren't as absolutely lovable as I now find them. It's around that same point that I realize that goodness, I have an awful lot of highlighted bits as well, because OMG she has a way with words that is just beyond delightful, whether its a declaration of love (gah! those declarations of love...) or a simple observation like Hart's rather throwaway (but oh-so-accurate) comment, "Oh, to hell with decent people. They're exhausting. Make one feel so evil, when really one simply has one's own concerns."
So. True.
It's getting to the point where I suspect I might enjoy junk food lists of ingredients, so long as they're written by this particular author.
But I digress.
A Gentleman Never Keeps Score is the second in her Seducing the Sedgwicks series, and though reading the first book isn't at all necessary, one will have a more complete picture of the Sedgwick family and situations if one has read the first book already ( It Takes Two to Tumble ). Since that story is pretty much a Regency m/m version of The Sound of Music, really you're doing yourself a major favor by reading it anyway. You're welcome. ;)
I'm alternately intrigued and concerned that the next book in this series seems to be about Hart and Ben's brother Will and the infamous Martin Easterbrook, who may or may not have had something to do with ruining Hart's society reputation...mostly intrigued, I think. But since the next two books on the author's Goodreads page are from a different series, I'll have to show some uncharacteristic patience and wait and see... ;)
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I'm assuming that the third Sedgewick brother will get a book, and although I'm also looking forward to catching up on Cat Sebastian's unrelated work, I can't wait to read it.
When his godfather leaves his house to him, Hartley's reputation gets banded about in less than complimentary terms. Feeling shunned, Hartley finds himself losing
Sam just wants to see his brother and his friend Kate finally get married and when he learns Kate fears a scandalous painting of her becoming public knowledge, he sets out to find it for her.
When Hartley and Sam meet, the spark is instant but circumstances, emotions, and life are going to give them a bumpy road.
Hartley went utterly still as he contemplated how thoroughly ruinous this was going to be for both of them.
Second in the Seducing the Sedgwicks, a series following along the Sedgwick brothers, this book focuses on Hartley, the brother who is deeply conflicted about how he sees trading sexual favors with his godfather for money to help his family. He doesn’t like to be touched and has a little bit of a prickly personality. Maybe because Sam was such a strong character but Hartley didn't leap off the pages for me. He's pretty self-contained and we do get a couple scenes with two of his brothers that highlight his personality but overall, he didn't grab me.
There was no reason for Sam to be thinking of Sedgwick at all, in fact. He wasn’t even that handsome unless you had a liking for fragile-looking men with fussy clothes.
Sam was the character that shone the brightest to me, he's a strong character but in the most gentle of ways. He has a similar shy, hidden aspect of his personality like Hartley, which due to their sexuality in their place and time is a necessity, but he also has rise to the front proclivity for, simply, caring. It is not an overdone martyr syndrome but no thought, generous, and loving way he makes his choices. The way he acts, responds, and encourages Hartley, is what make this story shine and will fill your heart.
And while only a fool would believe that a kitchen table supper between a rich man, a black boxer, and a three-legged dog could be the beginning of something good, maybe Sam was more foolish than he thought.
The writing showcased here is good and the ease of conversations and interactions between the main couple and secondary characters is the escape into fictional worlds above average quality that will suck you into the world. The first in the series, It Takes Two Tumble, I thought did a great job with the emotional growth in the lead's relationship, here I found that aspect lacking in the beginning. Hartley and Sam's sexual relationship develops pretty quickly, the emotional layers were a ways behind and as a consequence, I found their romance lacking. The sexual play scenes start very early and then when they do have a more solid emotional connection, I thought their sex scene was a bit short and abrupt and didn't deliver the impact (Hartley overcoming his touch issues) I was wanting to feel. The ending did provide some wonderful simple talking between Sam and Hartley that I wish had replaced some of the earlier sex scenes as I felt this showed their attraction and closeness more.
Nobody should have that kind of power over anyone, no matter how much money they had or if they had a title in front their name.
This story is heavily about relationships, the outer story and catalyst for getting Sam and Hartley together involving paintings is made to seem important only to be casually pushed to the background for most of the story and then a little rushed importance at the end. The secondary characters are superb (love Alf, Hartley's sort of valet) and add immensely to the story and world. This is one of the more realistic fiction romances with social issues realistically playing a role. If you're looking for a lot of action or adventure, this wouldn't be it but if you want sweet and aching emotion, you'll want to dive in.
it was super easy and enjoyable to read. short, sweet and a fun
again, i'd die for sam.
LIBRARIES...MAN, JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THEIR AMAZINGNESS!
My Review: First, read this:
“Oh, to hell with decent people. They’re exhausting. Make one feel so evil, when really one simply has one’s own concerns.”
–and–
“Let me make this equally clear to you, because
–and–
“Maybe you need to get rid of your idea of better. Your boots are better than mine, but they won’t fit my feet.”
I seriously love a pithy aperçu!
I quite like all the interconnectedness of these stories, and was gratified that Ben showed up despite being happily hooked up with his Phillip.
Not quite as easy for me was the nature of Hartley's problem barring him from easy intimacy with Sam. Saintly Sam got a smidge saccharine if you want to know the truth. The big problem separating them was, in the end, less resolved than treated with a massive injection of handwavium. I was in the fullness of my go-with-the-flow mood from Ben and Phillip's tale so I bobbed past that rock.
Right into the one that holed my boat and resulted in that missing star: Martin. I gather that Martin and Will are next in the series, so I will say nothing except: "Really."
My review of the third Seducing the Sedgwicks series, TWO ROGUES MAKE A RIGHT, comes out tomorrow is right here!
This is my first book by this author and I did enjoy it. I didn't know much about the plot going in but I had seen this author and this series recommended a lot before. This is book two and there are definitely some things I think I would have understood more of the background if I had
I also felt like plot stuff would happen and then relationship stuff would happen and it just never felt well integrated. The plot was the inciting incident to get these characters together but then it felt like it didn't continuing to be used to grow the relationship. I would have liked to see more of the plot elements helping to build the relationship because as it was written I didn't feel like I had a good foothold in why these two started having feelings for each other.
I think the author did a reasonably good job showing Hartley healing from the trauma that led to him not wanting to be touched. I personally felt like he got over some of it a bit too quickly, but other people might have different opinions as everyone heals at different rates and in different ways. The author did show them building trust so it didn't feel like magical relationships-heal-trauma nonsense, which I do appreciate.
I will probably read more from this series, especially since the relationships Hart's brothers had were much more interesting to me. I liked Sebastian's writing, even in I didn't love this relationship and there was enough here that I liked that I'm hopeful I'll enjoy some of her other work.
I 'm sure it is worth finishing as I haven't