Review: The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh by K.J. Charles (Society of Gentlemen #0.5)


Webster--Francis--moved to stand, and Ash put out a hand, pulling him to his feet. "You're dressed."


"And so I'll stay." Ash's gaze flew to his face, feeling a pulse of quick alarm, but Francis wore an odd expression, almost a smile. "To have you naked while I remain clothed is surprisingly..." He trailed off, as if searching for the word, then said softly, "It excites me."


When Lord Gabriel Ashleigh lost his worldly possessions to Francis Webster during a round of gambling, the last thing he expects is to be summoned to Webster's home and given the opportunity to win everything back. But if Ash loses yet again, Webster wants one thing and one thing only--Ash's complete surrender to do with as Webster pleases. After years of harassment at the hand's of Ash's older brother while at school--even now the mutual intolerance of one another is palpable--Webster's motivations could be purely about vengeance by setting Ash up for humiliation, thereby sullying their family name. Is this really a years-long plan for nothing more than revenge, or is it possibly something Ash never saw coming?

The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh is the prequel novella in the Society of Gentlemen series from author K.J. Charles and was originally published as part of the multi-authored Another Place in Time series. Both Gabriel Ashleigh and Francis Webster were introduced in the first book, A Fashionable Indulgence, which I absolutely adored, and because their presence there was markedly memorable, finally knowing how these two got together was a joy. Their main connection is Ash's older brother, who, like Francis, is six years older than Ash, but with Francis's relationship with said brother adversarial at best, Ash and Francis weren't exactly bosom buddies and Ash himself fell prey to putting his foot in his mouth while intoxicated.

This novella may not detail when Francis and Ash first met or every encounter they had thereafter, but what it does, and it does it rather well, is it gives readers pertinent information, enough that we know how enough of their history to realize that what happens to them is an undeniable inevitability. Novellas are difficult to pull off, mainly because of the limits on length, but K.J. Charles proves you can indeed create a story and leave a reader like me more than satisfied and squeeing in delight like the that fangirl I am. The Society of Gentlemen series has ruined me for all other Regency series, whether M/M or otherwise, and The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh gives you a delicious taste of just how addictive a series it is. Five-plus stars! ♥

Date Read: 21 December 2015

Learn more about K.J. Charles.

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