K.J. Charles has delivered a delicious tale of adventure, passion, and danger that swept me away from the very first page. Stolen moments with a mystery man quickly change to Barony responsibilities deep in the countryside where Gareth feels even more like an outsider. Or outmarsh as the case may be.

Gareth and Joss were absolutely delightful! It goes without saying, the yearning and passion was delicious, but I truly loved the banter and deep conversations the couple had. Working past the knee-jerk defensive comments to speak plainly about smuggling, the harsh realities of war for the Marsh, and personal histories. Angst-levels were relatively mild for Gareth and Joss's tale. There is the typical threat of forced-outing and homophobic remarks but K.J. Charles didn't leave those moments unchallenged.

Gareth's growth was the strongest. His history coupled with his desire to learn more about his absent father morphing into a hobby that fascinates him and eventually turns into the best euphemism: "Gone beetle hunting." Joss had his own bit of growth that was just as important. While he makes his living with smuggling, he is struggling with his loyalty and duty to family and balancing it with his own life, love, and happiness. The Doomsdays were a vibrant clan; characters to love and loathe all mixed together. 

Side note: I was intrigued by the specifics and how it related to Napoleon. 

I'm looking forward to the next Doomsday novel! It will be hard to top my love for Gareth and Joss but I am optimistic. In the meantime, I can feel a backlist binge session coming on. Apologies to my TBR and adult responsibilities!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Sourcebooks for my digital review copy!