A Gentleman’s Position by K.J. Charles (Society of Gentlemen #3)
Released: April 5, 2016
Historical M/M
Loveswept

Reviewed by Mandi

Favorite Quote: “Oh, Richard. Are you in love?”

“Painfully.” Richard’s throat felt tight. “For years.”

This is my first KJ Charles book and it definitely won’t be my last. I’m so glad she has a back list, yet so sad I’ve failed to read her. If her back list is anything like this book (which twitter tells me it is) I’m in for a treat. I really enjoyed her voice in this one.

I like when authors explore love between different classes and in this book, this author really explores it. Lord Richard Vane and his long-time valet David Cyprian, are in love with each other but neither have ever admitted it nor shown an inch of the attraction they feel. The torture they both go through every night as David undresses Richard is just that – torture!! But they pretend it’s just business as usual.

They were always in the bedroom, morning and night, David and his master. He brought tea and hot water. Dressed his lordship, groomed him, shaved him, made him the image of a fine gentleman in the morning then took it all apart again at night, always with that bed lurking at the corner of David’s eye. Every morning, Lord Richard could have reached out a hand for him, pulled him onto the bed. Every night, he could have pushed David just a few steps back from the mirror and the marble-topped dressing table and put him flat on his back.

While none of that happens, the amount of angst and hidden passion can’t stay buried forever. The truth explodes out one night – but a romp in the sheets does not follow. Here is the problem – Richard can’t fathom putting David in a position where David may want to say no to a physical advance yet won’t in fear of losing his job. And Richard is dead set on this. Although he knows that David has feelings towards him, what if in the future David changes his mind, yet feels forced to keep saying yes? This weighs heavily on Richard’s mind and he just can’t make himself let it go.

There could be no justice where one party had all the power and the other risked his livelihood with refusal. Therefore, one did not even ask, because one could never be sure that a “yes” didn’t mask “because I must.”

Meanwhile, to pile on top of the angst that tried to kill me, Richard receives a letter from his estranged mother – on her deathbed – and rushes to her side to try to amend the relationship before her last breath. AND HE IS TOO LATE.

Someone hold me please.

This book tried to kill me in the first half and I barely made it through (I truly love when books do that).

“I am not pretending any longer. This is not something you can ignore and order me to be silent about.” Cyprian swallowed. “I love you.”

Richard balled his fists against his surging panic. This could not be happening; his valet could not be wrenching the world out of alignment. He had no idea what to say. “No. I told you no.”

“I don’t believe you,” Cyprian said, and grabbed for Richard’s face.

It was an attempted kiss, no more, and Richard was by far the taller and stronger. But it was an attempt on his person when he had made himself very clear indeed, and birth, manhood, and thirty-seven years of giving the orders all cried out at once in outrage.

Richard pushed him away.

Beyond the lustful longing and devastating deaths, David is Richard’s right hand man. If there is a problem – no matter how big, David is very clever and can always work things out. When their group of friends get into some trouble (serious trouble) David is there to save the day – until he leaves because he can’t bear to look at Richard anymore unless he is naked – and then all their friends are screwed until Richard makes it right and David comes back.

Whew.

The second half of the book deals more with blackmail involving Richard’s friends which is fun, but less intense than the first half. I believe all of these friends show up in the previous two books, which I will be reading very soon.

Highly recommend this one – a great, angst-filled romance.

Grade: B+

Goodreads l Author Website l Series

Kindle l Nook