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Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune #2
The Duke at Hazard
The Duke of Severn is one of the greatest men in Britain.
He's also short, quiet, and unimpressive. And now he's been robbed, after indulging in one rash night with a strange man who stole the heirloom Severn ring from his finger. The Duke has to get it back, and he can't let anyone know how he lost it. So when his cousin bets that he couldn't survive without his privilege and title, the Duke grasps the opportunity to hunt down his ring-incognito.
Life as an ordinary person is terrifying... until the anonymous Duke meets Daizell Charnage, a disgraced gentleman, and hires him to help. Racing across the country in search of the thief, the Duke and Daizell fall into scrapes, into trouble-and in love.
Daizell has been excluded from polite society, his name tainted by his father's crimes and his own misbehaviour. Now he dares to dream of a life somewhere out of sight with the quiet gentleman who's stolen his heart. He doesn't know that his lover is a hugely rich public figure with half a dozen titles. And when he finds out, it will risk everything they have...
He's also short, quiet, and unimpressive. And now he's been robbed, after indulging in one rash night with a strange man who stole the heirloom Severn ring from his finger. The Duke has to get it back, and he can't let anyone know how he lost it. So when his cousin bets that he couldn't survive without his privilege and title, the Duke grasps the opportunity to hunt down his ring-incognito.
Life as an ordinary person is terrifying... until the anonymous Duke meets Daizell Charnage, a disgraced gentleman, and hires him to help. Racing across the country in search of the thief, the Duke and Daizell fall into scrapes, into trouble-and in love.
Daizell has been excluded from polite society, his name tainted by his father's crimes and his own misbehaviour. Now he dares to dream of a life somewhere out of sight with the quiet gentleman who's stolen his heart. He doesn't know that his lover is a hugely rich public figure with half a dozen titles. And when he finds out, it will risk everything they have...
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 17, 2024
176 people are currently reading
2977 people want to read
About the author
K.J. Charles
66 books12.3k followersKJ is moving to Storygraph.
KJ is a writer of romance, mostly m/m, historical or fantasy or both. She blogs about writing and editing at http://kjcharleswriter.com.
She lives in London, UK, with her husband, two kids, and a cat of absolute night.
Bluesky @kj_charleswriter.com
Join the lively Discord group at https://discord.gg/fmPTWSZfT6
Sign up to the (infrequent) newsletter at http://kjcharleswriter.com/newsletter
Please **do not** message me on Goodreads. I won't read it.
KJ is a writer of romance, mostly m/m, historical or fantasy or both. She blogs about writing and editing at http://kjcharleswriter.com.
She lives in London, UK, with her husband, two kids, and a cat of absolute night.
Bluesky @kj_charleswriter.com
Join the lively Discord group at https://discord.gg/fmPTWSZfT6
Sign up to the (infrequent) newsletter at http://kjcharleswriter.com/newsletter
Please **do not** message me on Goodreads. I won't read it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 571 reviews
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February 28, 2024A standalone book set in the world of The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting but with a completely new cast of characters. (You may notice some familiar faces in the background though...)
I really enjoyed spinning out this story from a classic start (duke goes incognito, chaos results). The Duke is a quiet, proper gentleman with a secret yearning for trouble, while Daizell is erratic and noisy with a secret yearning for peace, so obviously it all goes swimmingly. Also contains possibly my favourite Weird Yet Real Profession yet.
BTW I have been writing British-set historical romances for a decade now, and this is my first duke. I think I deserve some kind of award.
I really enjoyed spinning out this story from a classic start (duke goes incognito, chaos results). The Duke is a quiet, proper gentleman with a secret yearning for trouble, while Daizell is erratic and noisy with a secret yearning for peace, so obviously it all goes swimmingly. Also contains possibly my favourite Weird Yet Real Profession yet.
BTW I have been writing British-set historical romances for a decade now, and this is my first duke. I think I deserve some kind of award.
July 21, 2024
Road trip, caper, identity porn, only one bed -- oh, and a commoner/nobility romance --> tropey confection. But this is K.J. Charles, so watch carefully for when she uses "the Duke," when she uses "Cassian," when she oscillates between them, and what she does at the very end. Also, I wonder if other readers will be as startled as Cassian was, and as I was, to realize (That, by the way, is the very vaguest of spoilers: I'm probably being overcautious.) KJC is also, as always, interested in the uses and abuses of power, but because she's KJC she's shockingly good at embedding her political perspective in her characters and her twisty plots. Wish we could get her to run a presidential campaign.
Eh, I just loved this. It was the perfect thing to read after breaking my heart over Jendi Reiter's Two Natures, even though I sobbed into my pillow at the point where Cass and Daize had their big blowup (come on, that is not any kind of spoiler for a romance novel).
Eh, I just loved this. It was the perfect thing to read after breaking my heart over Jendi Reiter's Two Natures, even though I sobbed into my pillow at the point where Cass and Daize had their big blowup (come on, that is not any kind of spoiler for a romance novel).
October 18, 2025
Re-read 10/2025
Love them. So much.
‘You couldn’t just say who you are?’ ‘No! I couldn’t! I was incognito!’
‘So? What, if there’s Latin involved, it’s not a lie?’
‘I couldn’t say at first, and then, later, I didn’t want to be the Duke,’ Cassian said, the words spilling out urgently. ‘I wanted to be myself with you. Not to have that standing in the way, because it would have done, you know it would—’
‘It would. It does. And if I’d known it stood in the way before, I wouldn’t have said and done a lot of things. I wouldn’t have cared for you, and believed you cared—’ Daizell was crying, Cassian realised with horror, angry tears in his brown eyes. ‘I said things – felt things – This isn’t fair. You had no right to make me love you when you always knew I couldn’t.’
❤️❤️❤️
-------
Read 02/2025
A truly fabulous adventure and romance. I was glued to the pages, couldn't get enough of Cassian (The Duke) and Daizell (thankfully Daizell had to explain his name's pronunciation once, it's similar to "hazel").
What I loved most of all was the way the author showed us Cassian's character development. The story is told in third person past tense, with alternating pov's. The subtlety with which Cassian changed between Cassian/The Duke was sublime, especially later on in the story. It nearly hurt watching him slip into The Duke - personality again, after weeks of identifying and feeling whole as Cassian.
The slowly growing intimacy is something the author excells at, and I adored every second of it.
Watching Daizell's hurt later on broke my heart. It's very rare a book moves me so much my eyes fill with tears. I can count those books on one hand, and this is one of them. I felt I was living Daizell's pain and it HURT.
"I have to know. It's been so lonely and so pointless and I thought I had something with you... I can't be thrown away again. I don't know why people find it so easy to throw me away."
Where there's hurt there's need for grovelling and ohhhh did the author deliver on that front, too. *Chef's kiss*
The storyline was fast-paced, and yet the romance didn't suffer from it (at all). Truly stellar writing skills.
So. I could ramble on and on, this was so awesome. Definitely one of my favourite mm hr stories, and an instant all time favourite. Can't wait to reread it.
Ps we even got glimpses of Hart and Robin near the end of the book. I was internally giggling and smiling and just so, so happy.
Pps why are there not even 2000 ratings for this book?? Unbelievable.
Love them. So much.
‘You couldn’t just say who you are?’ ‘No! I couldn’t! I was incognito!’
‘So? What, if there’s Latin involved, it’s not a lie?’
‘I couldn’t say at first, and then, later, I didn’t want to be the Duke,’ Cassian said, the words spilling out urgently. ‘I wanted to be myself with you. Not to have that standing in the way, because it would have done, you know it would—’
‘It would. It does. And if I’d known it stood in the way before, I wouldn’t have said and done a lot of things. I wouldn’t have cared for you, and believed you cared—’ Daizell was crying, Cassian realised with horror, angry tears in his brown eyes. ‘I said things – felt things – This isn’t fair. You had no right to make me love you when you always knew I couldn’t.’
❤️❤️❤️
-------
Read 02/2025
A truly fabulous adventure and romance. I was glued to the pages, couldn't get enough of Cassian (The Duke) and Daizell (thankfully Daizell had to explain his name's pronunciation once, it's similar to "hazel").
What I loved most of all was the way the author showed us Cassian's character development. The story is told in third person past tense, with alternating pov's. The subtlety with which Cassian changed between Cassian/The Duke was sublime, especially later on in the story. It nearly hurt watching him slip into The Duke - personality again, after weeks of identifying and feeling whole as Cassian.
The slowly growing intimacy is something the author excells at, and I adored every second of it.
Watching Daizell's hurt later on broke my heart. It's very rare a book moves me so much my eyes fill with tears. I can count those books on one hand, and this is one of them. I felt I was living Daizell's pain and it HURT.
"I have to know. It's been so lonely and so pointless and I thought I had something with you... I can't be thrown away again. I don't know why people find it so easy to throw me away."
Where there's hurt there's need for grovelling and ohhhh did the author deliver on that front, too. *Chef's kiss*
The storyline was fast-paced, and yet the romance didn't suffer from it (at all). Truly stellar writing skills.
So. I could ramble on and on, this was so awesome. Definitely one of my favourite mm hr stories, and an instant all time favourite. Can't wait to reread it.
Ps we even got glimpses of Hart and Robin near the end of the book. I was internally giggling and smiling and just so, so happy.
Pps why are there not even 2000 ratings for this book?? Unbelievable.
December 19, 2024
[screams like a rubber goose]
the above was my review when the book was announced... it stands
also lmao @ me wracking my tiny little brain every time a new character was introduced to try and work out if they were subtly mentioned in The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting only for to arrive in like a frying pan to the face
the above was my review when the book was announced... it stands
also lmao @ me wracking my tiny little brain every time a new character was introduced to try and work out if they were subtly mentioned in The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting only for to arrive in like a frying pan to the face
February 11, 2026
My fav KJ Charles yet - and that’s saying something!
I was completely entranced from the very first page.
Cassian is a remarkable MC, and I fell for him instantly. He’s just… good? And kind? And a little cheeky? And just so profoundly loveable that it felt impossible not to root for him with my whole heart.
And Daizell.. man, was I attracted to him and his charm, roguish confidence and all his competency. His loneliness and longing for companionship, affection and touch. His deep desire to care and be cared for. I LOVED him. 😭
The dynamic between them is exquisite: sharp wit and dry sarcasm balanced by moments of gorgeous tenderness. Again and again, these two melted me. The empathy they show one another, the steady, unwavering support, the way they see each other was just, GAH, so beautiful 🥹
And then there was the flawlessly woven in Somnophilia and Praise kink which was not only smoking hot but also just so wholesome because it was rooted in trust and care, rather than shock value. So good.
Add into all that an adventure of a lifetime - at least for Cassian - through the English countryside, on the hunt for a thief and the object he stole, a secret identity and a soft and tender romance and I was GONE!
And glued to the pages, forcing myself to slow down, to not rush this, because it was just so good, from first to last sentence.
The writing was magnificent, no surprise here, but still worth mentioning. I don’t think anyone else manages to catch the zeitgeist of this period through language quite like this author does. Truly remarkable.
I adored absolutely everything about this 🥹
I was completely entranced from the very first page.
Cassian is a remarkable MC, and I fell for him instantly. He’s just… good? And kind? And a little cheeky? And just so profoundly loveable that it felt impossible not to root for him with my whole heart.
And Daizell.. man, was I attracted to him and his charm, roguish confidence and all his competency. His loneliness and longing for companionship, affection and touch. His deep desire to care and be cared for. I LOVED him. 😭
The dynamic between them is exquisite: sharp wit and dry sarcasm balanced by moments of gorgeous tenderness. Again and again, these two melted me. The empathy they show one another, the steady, unwavering support, the way they see each other was just, GAH, so beautiful 🥹
And then there was the flawlessly woven in Somnophilia and Praise kink which was not only smoking hot but also just so wholesome because it was rooted in trust and care, rather than shock value. So good.
Add into all that an adventure of a lifetime - at least for Cassian - through the English countryside, on the hunt for a thief and the object he stole, a secret identity and a soft and tender romance and I was GONE!
And glued to the pages, forcing myself to slow down, to not rush this, because it was just so good, from first to last sentence.
The writing was magnificent, no surprise here, but still worth mentioning. I don’t think anyone else manages to catch the zeitgeist of this period through language quite like this author does. Truly remarkable.
I adored absolutely everything about this 🥹
He wanted Cassian as close as he could be, because when he was close the world was a warm, soothing, easy place. He wanted to show his enchanting but oddly uncertain bard that he was entirely enchanted.
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
‘You absolutely were. Are. How are you so marvellous?’
Daizell was not used to being marvellous. He rather felt he could be led around like a dog on a string by Cassian telling him he was marvellous.
October 23, 2024
~4.5~
Utterly charming and a blast to read! I honest to god giggled at few times.
Cassian playing the Vengeful Duke (or, as Daizell says, "swinging his duke around") to thrash the grossly unjust magistrate and expose vile Sir Vier was delicious.
Watching cheaters and abusers get their comeuppance is oh-so satisfying.
The flip side of justice is mercy, which Cassian showed in spades with his kind treatment of John Martin. Sometimes getting robbed is the best thing that can happen ... if you're a duke that is.
Cass and Daizell were sweet and gentle and loved each other desperately. Daizell didn't even mind the Shakespeare tour (much).
After all, a man who was interested in everything made everything interesting.
No one writes Regency romance like K.J. Charles. I adore her style, and her flair for writing dialogue is second to none.
The elopement drama was a bit much, but Eliza did save the day in the end, so I can't begrudge her presence.
Utterly charming and a blast to read! I honest to god giggled at few times.
Cassian playing the Vengeful Duke (or, as Daizell says, "swinging his duke around") to thrash the grossly unjust magistrate and expose vile Sir Vier was delicious.
Watching cheaters and abusers get their comeuppance is oh-so satisfying.
The flip side of justice is mercy, which Cassian showed in spades with his kind treatment of John Martin. Sometimes getting robbed is the best thing that can happen ... if you're a duke that is.
Cass and Daizell were sweet and gentle and loved each other desperately. Daizell didn't even mind the Shakespeare tour (much).
After all, a man who was interested in everything made everything interesting.
No one writes Regency romance like K.J. Charles. I adore her style, and her flair for writing dialogue is second to none.
The elopement drama was a bit much, but Eliza did save the day in the end, so I can't begrudge her presence.
September 22, 2024
One day I might find a KJC book that I am not completely charmed by but today is not that day.
This was a fairly simple, but very fun, adventure story following the (slightly delayed) coming of age tale of an overly sheltered Cassian, the Duke of Severn, who found himself robbed of all his belongings after an assignation (including a very valuable ring which is a family heirloom). Cass sets out to try and retrieve his ring however, given his naiveté of the common world end up recruiting the disgraced gentleman Daizell in his efforts to track down the thief and adventure ensues.
KJC is a master at what I like to think of as the ‘romantic kink sandwich’, which is like a ‘compliment sandwich’ but instead of compliments and insults it features charming and emotional romantic connections and then some surprisingly spicy kinks… in this instance somnophilia and praise kink (which totally worked for Cassian and Daizells dynamic).
As always KJC fills out her stories with some great side characters (especially Martin) and Sir James was a great villian. Also it was such a delight to have the little cameo from Hart and Loxleigh (from book 1) and I can just imagine the four of them being friends in the future. I hope there will be some sort of .5 short story put out of them running a brewery business together cause it’ll just be so fun.
I always finish a KJC book appreciative of the time I spent with it and this one was no different.
This was a fairly simple, but very fun, adventure story following the (slightly delayed) coming of age tale of an overly sheltered Cassian, the Duke of Severn, who found himself robbed of all his belongings after an assignation (including a very valuable ring which is a family heirloom). Cass sets out to try and retrieve his ring however, given his naiveté of the common world end up recruiting the disgraced gentleman Daizell in his efforts to track down the thief and adventure ensues.
KJC is a master at what I like to think of as the ‘romantic kink sandwich’, which is like a ‘compliment sandwich’ but instead of compliments and insults it features charming and emotional romantic connections and then some surprisingly spicy kinks… in this instance somnophilia and praise kink (which totally worked for Cassian and Daizells dynamic).
As always KJC fills out her stories with some great side characters (especially Martin) and Sir James was a great villian. Also it was such a delight to have the little cameo from Hart and Loxleigh (from book 1) and I can just imagine the four of them being friends in the future. I hope there will be some sort of .5 short story put out of them running a brewery business together cause it’ll just be so fun.
I always finish a KJC book appreciative of the time I spent with it and this one was no different.
August 14, 2024
For the umpteenth time.... KJ CHARLES NEVER MISSES.
Full RTC.
I just loved this book so much. Cassian, Duke of Severn, makes a wager with his cousin that he can’t survive a month without his ducal privileges and well-meaning but overbearing family and staff. Cassian will also use this month to find the heirloom Severn ring that was recently stolen from him. Cassian's adventures into being a commoner are not going well until he comes across Daizell Charnage, a savvy disgraced gentleman, and he enlists him to help him find his ring. Naturally they fall for each other, but DAIZELL HAS NO IDEA THAT CASSIAN IS A DUKE
I loved this romance, and guess what? I usually have a hard time with romances that center on bets and wagers but Cassian and Daizell's chemistry was so delicious that THE SECRET hanging over them (aka Cassian's real identity) didn't ruin the story for me. Also, this wager wasn't about deceiving Daizell. it was about Cassian being a normal person and escaping his ducal responsibilities for a bit. Mind you, the wager still SUCKED but Cassian wasn't being deliberately cruel. The third act conflict actually made sense because while Cassian didn't intend to deceive Daziell, Daziell's reaction was justified because this is a man who longs for companionship after being exiled from "proper" society for HIS PARENT'S CRIMES (not to mention being slandered) and he's just found out that the man he's falling for and starting to envision a future with is a DUKE? Yeah, that's a lot and his pain was valid. I also felt for Cassian because he didn't want people to treat him differently because of his title and wealth, and he was just about to reveal who he was so THANKS FOR THAT MARTIN.
KJ Charles is so good at writing MCs who initially have a hard time sticking up for themselves and then when they finally find their voice; you want to cheer. I was snapping my fingers when Cassian started to "throw his Duke around." The scene when he reminded his family that HE was the duke, not them, and that he's capable of choosing his own friends was delicious:
"By God, I will not have this! Constant dictation of what the Duke may do, and how, and who with – I will decide what I do, and make my friends as I please! Who the devil are you to tell me otherwise? If people don’t like my choice of friends, they may set themselves outside my acquaintance, and if the family don’t like my guests in my house, they are not obliged to live there! I will have no more of this accursed trammelling. I am a grown man, and the obligations and duties of my station do not extend to having my friends selected for me! How dare you tell me who I may care for?"
*Inserts that Olivia Wilde nodding gif*
I also love that KJ Charles' villains always get what they deserve. None of this "when they go low, we go high" energy, MAKE THEM SUFFER. In this book, the villain is Sir James Vier and he's HORRIBLE and he gets exactly what he deserves. GET HIM AGAIN FOR ME.
Other things I loved about this book:
The Robin and Hart appearance. Robin being his charming self and Hart immediately wanting to fight Sir James. I've missed you kings.
Louisa telling Leo to shut up (repeatedly)
Louisa's husband Kentridge.
New Kink Unlocked? 😴 🔥👀
Cassian using his privilege to get his man out of jail.
A gorgeous groveling scene followed by sexy time
So, Martin will definitely be the hero of the next book huh....well if Cassian and Daziell can forgive him, then so can I 🙄😭😂
Full RTC.
I just loved this book so much. Cassian, Duke of Severn, makes a wager with his cousin that he can’t survive a month without his ducal privileges and well-meaning but overbearing family and staff. Cassian will also use this month to find the heirloom Severn ring that was recently stolen from him. Cassian's adventures into being a commoner are not going well until he comes across Daizell Charnage, a savvy disgraced gentleman, and he enlists him to help him find his ring. Naturally they fall for each other, but DAIZELL HAS NO IDEA THAT CASSIAN IS A DUKE
I loved this romance, and guess what? I usually have a hard time with romances that center on bets and wagers but Cassian and Daizell's chemistry was so delicious that THE SECRET hanging over them (aka Cassian's real identity) didn't ruin the story for me. Also, this wager wasn't about deceiving Daizell. it was about Cassian being a normal person and escaping his ducal responsibilities for a bit. Mind you, the wager still SUCKED but Cassian wasn't being deliberately cruel. The third act conflict actually made sense because while Cassian didn't intend to deceive Daziell, Daziell's reaction was justified because this is a man who longs for companionship after being exiled from "proper" society for HIS PARENT'S CRIMES (not to mention being slandered) and he's just found out that the man he's falling for and starting to envision a future with is a DUKE? Yeah, that's a lot and his pain was valid. I also felt for Cassian because he didn't want people to treat him differently because of his title and wealth, and he was just about to reveal who he was so THANKS FOR THAT MARTIN.
KJ Charles is so good at writing MCs who initially have a hard time sticking up for themselves and then when they finally find their voice; you want to cheer. I was snapping my fingers when Cassian started to "throw his Duke around." The scene when he reminded his family that HE was the duke, not them, and that he's capable of choosing his own friends was delicious:
"By God, I will not have this! Constant dictation of what the Duke may do, and how, and who with – I will decide what I do, and make my friends as I please! Who the devil are you to tell me otherwise? If people don’t like my choice of friends, they may set themselves outside my acquaintance, and if the family don’t like my guests in my house, they are not obliged to live there! I will have no more of this accursed trammelling. I am a grown man, and the obligations and duties of my station do not extend to having my friends selected for me! How dare you tell me who I may care for?"
*Inserts that Olivia Wilde nodding gif*
I also love that KJ Charles' villains always get what they deserve. None of this "when they go low, we go high" energy, MAKE THEM SUFFER. In this book, the villain is Sir James Vier and he's HORRIBLE and he gets exactly what he deserves. GET HIM AGAIN FOR ME.
Other things I loved about this book:
The Robin and Hart appearance. Robin being his charming self and Hart immediately wanting to fight Sir James. I've missed you kings.
Louisa telling Leo to shut up (repeatedly)
Louisa's husband Kentridge.
New Kink Unlocked? 😴 🔥👀
Cassian using his privilege to get his man out of jail.
A gorgeous groveling scene followed by sexy time
So, Martin will definitely be the hero of the next book huh....well if Cassian and Daziell can forgive him, then so can I 🙄😭😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2025
‘I want you to touch me while I sleep.’ He said it in a breath. ‘I want you to – to take whatever liberties you care to, because you can, and to be trying not to wake me so you can carry on doing as you please.’
There was no way I was giving cute and soft somnophilia by KJC anything less than 5 stars!
Also, this is on sale for 99¢ everywhere right now. (2 Sept 2025)
Longer RTC, but somnophilia and a sale, go get it!!
There was no way I was giving cute and soft somnophilia by KJC anything less than 5 stars!
Also, this is on sale for 99¢ everywhere right now. (2 Sept 2025)
Longer RTC, but somnophilia and a sale, go get it!!
August 4, 2024
I do fear that this account is becoming a K.J. Charles fan page. With good reason? The angst, the longing, the uh-oh moments, the way the characters make mistakes and lose their tempers and find themselves...KJC knows what she's doing, and The Duke at Hazard proves it.
The story starts with Cassian, a duke who feels suffocated by his title and the privilege that comes with it. He yearns for a chance to break away from all the rules and constant oversight, and when his signet ring is stolen (under embarassing circumstances), he decides to do just that. He sheds his fancy clothes and his retinue and sets out on a month-long journey to recover his ring, though having never traveled alone, he quickly finds himself in over his head.
Enter Daizell Charnage, a "ruined" gentleman slash seasoned traveler who needs money and (as we soon come to learn) a friend. The two partner up to find the missing ring, and the story begins.
Though there were a few known tropes in this book, including hidden identity and only one bed, there were also plenty of surprises. I loved the depiction of portrait cutting, which was apparently a real profession back in the 1800s. Also, I think this might be the first book I've ever read with side rep (m/m with no tops or bottoms), which is...kind of astounding? Like, I read...a lot. And I'm wracking my brain but I literally cannot think of another example on my shelf? So high praise for that.
The chemistry between Cassian and Daizell takes time to develop, which is always my preference. I want to see characters grow into each other, the slower the better. It makes it so much more satisfying when they finally do get their big moment. Also, Daizell doesn't realize Cassian is a duke for most of the book, which - the tension. Jeez Louise.
Last thought (and mild spoilers ahead): compared to some of KJC's other books, this one seemed to have more physical action. There were chases on horseback, kidnappings, carriage crashes, fist fights, and Daizell and Cassian were almost constantly traveling, which gave the story a different feel. At the same time, the book was gentle. Not vicious or hard to stomach.
I think I've said it all! It's good! Read it!
**As a fellow author, I only post five star reviews. If I didn't enjoy something, I won't review it.**
The story starts with Cassian, a duke who feels suffocated by his title and the privilege that comes with it. He yearns for a chance to break away from all the rules and constant oversight, and when his signet ring is stolen (under embarassing circumstances), he decides to do just that. He sheds his fancy clothes and his retinue and sets out on a month-long journey to recover his ring, though having never traveled alone, he quickly finds himself in over his head.
Enter Daizell Charnage, a "ruined" gentleman slash seasoned traveler who needs money and (as we soon come to learn) a friend. The two partner up to find the missing ring, and the story begins.
Though there were a few known tropes in this book, including hidden identity and only one bed, there were also plenty of surprises. I loved the depiction of portrait cutting, which was apparently a real profession back in the 1800s. Also, I think this might be the first book I've ever read with side rep (m/m with no tops or bottoms), which is...kind of astounding? Like, I read...a lot. And I'm wracking my brain but I literally cannot think of another example on my shelf? So high praise for that.
The chemistry between Cassian and Daizell takes time to develop, which is always my preference. I want to see characters grow into each other, the slower the better. It makes it so much more satisfying when they finally do get their big moment. Also, Daizell doesn't realize Cassian is a duke for most of the book, which - the tension. Jeez Louise.
Last thought (and mild spoilers ahead): compared to some of KJC's other books, this one seemed to have more physical action. There were chases on horseback, kidnappings, carriage crashes, fist fights, and Daizell and Cassian were almost constantly traveling, which gave the story a different feel. At the same time, the book was gentle. Not vicious or hard to stomach.
I think I've said it all! It's good! Read it!
**As a fellow author, I only post five star reviews. If I didn't enjoy something, I won't review it.**
June 6, 2024
I love books by K.J. Charles, especially the combination of wit and pining, both ingredients in The Duke at Hazard. And still …
I liked Cassian’s and Dhazell’s story; I just didn’t love it. Situations that should have made me smile didn’t do anything more than sometimes pull up my lips a little; I lost my concentration while reading the ‘There’s just one bed’ scene, and even though the pacing was fast, I was reading so slowly.
I do not even have the inspiration to write a full review. For me, this story was just okay. Nothing more, nothing less. Please check out other reviews if you want to read this one!
Thank you, Orion Publishing Group, for this ARC. I’m sorry for not liking it more.
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I liked Cassian’s and Dhazell’s story; I just didn’t love it. Situations that should have made me smile didn’t do anything more than sometimes pull up my lips a little; I lost my concentration while reading the ‘There’s just one bed’ scene, and even though the pacing was fast, I was reading so slowly.
I do not even have the inspiration to write a full review. For me, this story was just okay. Nothing more, nothing less. Please check out other reviews if you want to read this one!
Thank you, Orion Publishing Group, for this ARC. I’m sorry for not liking it more.
Follow me on Instagram
January 13, 2026
Absolutely loved this book. The slow yearning was completely swoon-worthy ❤️
Cassian, aka The Duke of Severn, was a really great character. When the book started, he was well-intentioned but very much not knowing what reality looked like for a normal person, and by the end, he not only learned but also grew as a better person.
And poor, sweet, Daizell. I was so sad when they fought, and he felt alone and worthless. I was so happy with how his story ended.
Cassian, aka The Duke of Severn, was a really great character. When the book started, he was well-intentioned but very much not knowing what reality looked like for a normal person, and by the end, he not only learned but also grew as a better person.
And poor, sweet, Daizell. I was so sad when they fought, and he felt alone and worthless. I was so happy with how his story ended.
December 5, 2025
Re-read: Help, I just love everything KJ Charles writes so much that I literally cannot read anything else right now 😹 GLORIOUS.
***
This absolutely amazing book is further proof that Our Lord and Saviour KJ Charles can do no wrong 😍 It’s been one of my most anticipated reads this year and it absolutely did not disappoint (plus the scream I scrempt when we got a cameo from Hart and Robin? Holyyyy shit).
The Duke of Severn is sick of being a Duke. The strict lifestyle imposed upon him, the rules he has to follow, the manners he has to live by… he’s lonely and fed up, so when a man who has no idea he’s a duke suggests a night together, he accepts with a feeling of joy. That is until next morning when he realises the man has robbed him and taken his ducal signet ring.
Terrified to be found out, The Duke, posing as ‘ordinary gentleman’ Cassian, sets out for a month to try and recover his missing ring. Of course, that is easier said than done for a man who is used to having EVERYTHING done for him, so when he runs into down-on-his luck Daizell Charnage he jumps at the chance to have a friendly travelling companion and man-of-the-world to help guide him. As the two grow close and start to feel more than simply friendship between them, the future seems to be looking bright… But Daizell is running from a dark past, and Cassian is hiding a huge secret, so how is it going to every work out between these star-crossed lovers?
As with all of KJ Charles books, the plot is well thought out and we have a delightful selection of side characters and side plots, including a young woman trying to elope to secure her fortune, a dramatic stage-coach incident and a scandal around cheating at cards; there wasn’t a dull moment!
Cassian and Daizell were such wonderful characters and you just wanted to root for them the whole time; they fit each other perfectly and I loved their discussions around what they wanted in bed and in life! As always with KJ Charles books, the HEA is just gorgeous and I loved that these two get to make each other happy for many years to come 💕
Read Duke At Hazard for:
✨ Duke x disgraced gentleman
✨ Hidden identity
✨ Only one bed
✨ Mutual hatred of public transport
✨ Praise kink & consensual somnophilia
✨ Side rep (no tops, no bottoms)
✨ Fleecing a vicar and helping a lady to elope
✨ Uncovering a gambling scandal
✨ ‘I’m the duke, I do what I want’ 💕
I got an ARC of this from NetGalley, but also shoutout to Waterstones for shipping my physical book 2 weeks early 🤣💕
***
This absolutely amazing book is further proof that Our Lord and Saviour KJ Charles can do no wrong 😍 It’s been one of my most anticipated reads this year and it absolutely did not disappoint (plus the scream I scrempt when we got a cameo from Hart and Robin? Holyyyy shit).
The Duke of Severn is sick of being a Duke. The strict lifestyle imposed upon him, the rules he has to follow, the manners he has to live by… he’s lonely and fed up, so when a man who has no idea he’s a duke suggests a night together, he accepts with a feeling of joy. That is until next morning when he realises the man has robbed him and taken his ducal signet ring.
Terrified to be found out, The Duke, posing as ‘ordinary gentleman’ Cassian, sets out for a month to try and recover his missing ring. Of course, that is easier said than done for a man who is used to having EVERYTHING done for him, so when he runs into down-on-his luck Daizell Charnage he jumps at the chance to have a friendly travelling companion and man-of-the-world to help guide him. As the two grow close and start to feel more than simply friendship between them, the future seems to be looking bright… But Daizell is running from a dark past, and Cassian is hiding a huge secret, so how is it going to every work out between these star-crossed lovers?
As with all of KJ Charles books, the plot is well thought out and we have a delightful selection of side characters and side plots, including a young woman trying to elope to secure her fortune, a dramatic stage-coach incident and a scandal around cheating at cards; there wasn’t a dull moment!
Cassian and Daizell were such wonderful characters and you just wanted to root for them the whole time; they fit each other perfectly and I loved their discussions around what they wanted in bed and in life! As always with KJ Charles books, the HEA is just gorgeous and I loved that these two get to make each other happy for many years to come 💕
Read Duke At Hazard for:
✨ Duke x disgraced gentleman
✨ Hidden identity
✨ Only one bed
✨ Mutual hatred of public transport
✨ Praise kink & consensual somnophilia
✨ Side rep (no tops, no bottoms)
✨ Fleecing a vicar and helping a lady to elope
✨ Uncovering a gambling scandal
✨ ‘I’m the duke, I do what I want’ 💕
I got an ARC of this from NetGalley, but also shoutout to Waterstones for shipping my physical book 2 weeks early 🤣💕
February 28, 2025
This was such a warm, comforting hug of a book, I absolutely adore KJC’s writing. She is so very skilled. I loved their awkward, utterly charming conversations. Lovely, unique characters, with brilliant development and growth for Cassian. Rare and well done inclusion of subtle kink into a historical romance. Great secondary characters and villain with an intriguing storyline and a satisfying ending. Beautiful narration by Cornell Collin’s.
Oh and I must mention the classic KJ inclusion of an “interesting and obscure historical profession” that led me down a fascinating Google rabbit hole.
Oh and I must mention the classic KJ inclusion of an “interesting and obscure historical profession” that led me down a fascinating Google rabbit hole.
June 17, 2024
Rep: gay mcs
Galley provided by publisher
This review is going to be incredibly short because the crux of the matter is just that this was not the kind of romance that suits me. It’s entirely probable that this is an outlier of a review and opinion and I’m perfectly happy with that. There are other K. J. Charles books that I have loved and will come back to. My YMMV issue here was simply that I prefer my romances to have a bit more bite to them. If you enjoy two big ol’ softies being big ol’ softies to one another, then this could well be the book for you.
Galley provided by publisher
This review is going to be incredibly short because the crux of the matter is just that this was not the kind of romance that suits me. It’s entirely probable that this is an outlier of a review and opinion and I’m perfectly happy with that. There are other K. J. Charles books that I have loved and will come back to. My YMMV issue here was simply that I prefer my romances to have a bit more bite to them. If you enjoy two big ol’ softies being big ol’ softies to one another, then this could well be the book for you.
July 18, 2024
4.5 stars. K.J. Charles' 2016 blog post about British nobility titles yielded this gem: 'Duke’ is an immensely important title, with only a handful existing at any time, except in romantic fiction where they outnumber the servants. So now that KJC has finally decided to give her latest MC that rare title, you can be sure he will not be a cliched handsome, arrogant rake. In fact, the fourth Duke of Severn's looks are unremarkable, and he is in the midst of a dandy existential crisis. He's gradually losing the struggle to fulfill his obligations to the title without completely losing himself in the process. That doesn't mean it's not fun to watch the clueless "Cassian" master such mundane skills as riding in a public stagecoach or getting a laugh in a crowded bar room, but there is significantly more depth to his character than Poor Little Rich Duke.
Daizell Charnage has a unique artistic skill that has kept him off the streets and enabled him to cling to a few shreds of dignity after being ruined financially and socially. Once he and Cassian become lovers, it's inevitable that the reveal of The Duke's Big Secret will not go well. Where Luke in KJC's A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel was hiding an ulterior motive, Cassian is lying by omission about his entire identity, which is arguably even worse. Even if Daizell is the forgiving sort, how can the Duke of Severn and a disgraced near-pauper have a future together?
The chemistry between Cassian and Daizell is somewhat slow to develop, but once the Only One Bed trope is deployed, things heat up considerably. This is definitely a kinder, gentler KJC, with a low body count and villains who are wealthy, entitled asshats instead of spies or assassins. The Duke at Hazard can easily be read as a standalone, although characters from The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting play a not insignificant role in the climactic scene.
KJC has proven that she can breathe new life into an old romance novel staple. Perhaps she can do the same for vampires next?
ARC gratefully received from the publisher and Net Galley in exchange for objective review.
Daizell Charnage has a unique artistic skill that has kept him off the streets and enabled him to cling to a few shreds of dignity after being ruined financially and socially. Once he and Cassian become lovers, it's inevitable that the reveal of The Duke's Big Secret will not go well. Where Luke in KJC's A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel was hiding an ulterior motive, Cassian is lying by omission about his entire identity, which is arguably even worse. Even if Daizell is the forgiving sort, how can the Duke of Severn and a disgraced near-pauper have a future together?
The chemistry between Cassian and Daizell is somewhat slow to develop, but once the Only One Bed trope is deployed, things heat up considerably. This is definitely a kinder, gentler KJC, with a low body count and villains who are wealthy, entitled asshats instead of spies or assassins. The Duke at Hazard can easily be read as a standalone, although characters from The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting play a not insignificant role in the climactic scene.
KJC has proven that she can breathe new life into an old romance novel staple. Perhaps she can do the same for vampires next?
ARC gratefully received from the publisher and Net Galley in exchange for objective review.
July 20, 2024
Delightful! I was genuinely surprised at the POV switch - not at all who I expected (I think I was thinking it would be more of a The Secret Lives of Country Gentleman scenario) and I looooved the characters, the plot, the overall vibes. I kept guessing where the plot was going to go and being wrong, which was a lot of fun. The sex, hot. The emotions, poignant. The plot, “cracking” as KJC herself would say. Yeah this was just so solidly, solidly good!
I also read most of this while trapped for hours in an airport due to a certain global IT outage, and it was by far the most fun flight delay I’ve ever had. (All I wanted was several uninterrupted hours to read this… and I got it.)
I can’t decide which I liked more, “Bravos” or “Yoicks!” I got to “gamahuching” and was like “awww KJC,” like I actually got nostalgic.
I can’t like the title - nothing fun about being reminded of The Dukes of Hazzard at this point in American politics, although I assume much less directly stressful of a reference point for KJC. I searched for whether “duke of hazard” was a phrase before the TV show but didn’t find anything - maybe she just couldn’t resist the play on words, but I would have recommended against it.
To read this, I think you definitely need to have read The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting first (and A Thief in the Night wouldn’t hurt either, although it would really be just for one line - but A Thief was fun and short, so totally worth it.).
This book is also a sort of interesting companion piece to Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall, another queer romance about a Duke and a non-Duke gallivanting barefingered around the countryside. That was definitely the Hall take (absurdist), and this is definitely the Charles take (plotty). I loved both - so who’s next? Rose Lerner? Aster Glenn Gray? Samara Breger? Simon Jimenez? Please, everybody, get in on this.
I also read most of this while trapped for hours in an airport due to a certain global IT outage, and it was by far the most fun flight delay I’ve ever had. (All I wanted was several uninterrupted hours to read this… and I got it.)
I can’t decide which I liked more, “Bravos” or “Yoicks!” I got to “gamahuching” and was like “awww KJC,” like I actually got nostalgic.
I can’t like the title - nothing fun about being reminded of The Dukes of Hazzard at this point in American politics, although I assume much less directly stressful of a reference point for KJC. I searched for whether “duke of hazard” was a phrase before the TV show but didn’t find anything - maybe she just couldn’t resist the play on words, but I would have recommended against it.
To read this, I think you definitely need to have read The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting first (and A Thief in the Night wouldn’t hurt either, although it would really be just for one line - but A Thief was fun and short, so totally worth it.).
This book is also a sort of interesting companion piece to Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall, another queer romance about a Duke and a non-Duke gallivanting barefingered around the countryside. That was definitely the Hall take (absurdist), and this is definitely the Charles take (plotty). I loved both - so who’s next? Rose Lerner? Aster Glenn Gray? Samara Breger? Simon Jimenez? Please, everybody, get in on this.
July 27, 2024
4.5 rounded up
In what has felt like a sea of mediocrity in the genre over the past few years (most heartbreakingly even from authors whom I really loved and enjoyed), KJ Charles is a beacon of light and hope! This was just as delightful and charming as one would expect, fully of engaging characters, lovely emotion, and a plot that toes the line of zany in the best way. The kink stuff did feel a little out of left field, even for being relatively tame--it didn't bother me and I could see what the author was going for, but it didn't really feel like it totally fit with the vibe. But truly this was a joy, and a welcome reminder that it's not just *me* who has gotten more critical of books lately, because clearly I'm still very much capable of reading and loving a book in the genre.
In what has felt like a sea of mediocrity in the genre over the past few years (most heartbreakingly even from authors whom I really loved and enjoyed), KJ Charles is a beacon of light and hope! This was just as delightful and charming as one would expect, fully of engaging characters, lovely emotion, and a plot that toes the line of zany in the best way. The kink stuff did feel a little out of left field, even for being relatively tame--it didn't bother me and I could see what the author was going for, but it didn't really feel like it totally fit with the vibe. But truly this was a joy, and a welcome reminder that it's not just *me* who has gotten more critical of books lately, because clearly I'm still very much capable of reading and loving a book in the genre.
September 5, 2024
Wonderful characters, entertaining plot and sweet sweet romance. Perfect.
August 29, 2024
The Duke at Hazard might take the crown for my favourite K.J. Charles. It's between this and The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting; either way the Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune is my favourite series from her!
I just loved Cassian and Daizell's relationship, from their friendship to romance it was perfect. K.J. Charles' characters and world are so detailed and well researched (as usual with this author!), it made for an amazing reading experience!
__
The Duke of Severn, also known as Cassian, is in a precarious spot being robbed after a carnal night with a strange man. This wouldn't be too bad, just embarrassing having to admit to being robbed but the thief made off with the Severn ring. An heirloom passed down from grandfather to father to him.
An opportunity to search for the ring arises when his cousin wagers that he wouldn't be able to survive a month without his title and all that comes with it. Cassian jumps on the chance to be free from the weight of his role and goes incognito, trying to track down the thief and regain his ring without anyone becoming the wiser.
However, Cassian is no tracker and his inquiries are turning up empty. Enter Daizell Charnage, a disgraced gentleman with an infamous reputation. The two meet and Daizell agrees to help Cassian track down the thief and navigate life without a ducal title.
As the two get into some sticky situations with narrow escapes, they become fast friends and eventually lovers. But Daizell is unaware thar Cassian is a Duke.
I just loved Cassian and Daizell's relationship, from their friendship to romance it was perfect. K.J. Charles' characters and world are so detailed and well researched (as usual with this author!), it made for an amazing reading experience!
__
The Duke of Severn, also known as Cassian, is in a precarious spot being robbed after a carnal night with a strange man. This wouldn't be too bad, just embarrassing having to admit to being robbed but the thief made off with the Severn ring. An heirloom passed down from grandfather to father to him.
An opportunity to search for the ring arises when his cousin wagers that he wouldn't be able to survive a month without his title and all that comes with it. Cassian jumps on the chance to be free from the weight of his role and goes incognito, trying to track down the thief and regain his ring without anyone becoming the wiser.
However, Cassian is no tracker and his inquiries are turning up empty. Enter Daizell Charnage, a disgraced gentleman with an infamous reputation. The two meet and Daizell agrees to help Cassian track down the thief and navigate life without a ducal title.
As the two get into some sticky situations with narrow escapes, they become fast friends and eventually lovers. But Daizell is unaware thar Cassian is a Duke.
August 22, 2024
A- at AAR / 4.5 stars rounded up.
The Duke at Hazard is a fun, fast-paced and thoroughly enjoyable historical romance that is, at its heart, a story about growing up, self-discovery and finding that one person who brings out the best in you and helps you to realise your full potential. Being a KJ Charles story there is, of course, plenty of wryly observed social commentary, a dastardly villain who gets his well-deserved comeuppance, a pair of likeable, superbly characterised leads and high-jinks and shenanigans galore.
Vernon Fortesque Cassian George de Vere Crosse, fourth Duke of Severn, has spent his entire life wrapped up in cotton wool. Having inherited his lofty title at the age of six, he was brought up by his uncle Hugo to be fully aware of his responsibilities and his consequence as one of the highest-ranking gentlemen in England. His life is comfortable and he wants for nothing, but he is starting to chafe against the bars of his gilded cage and longs to strike out on his own, to be able throw off the trappings of nobility sometimes and just be… himself, a man and not a duke. Unfortunately however, the one time he does that, it goes horribly wrong. An assignation with a young man who appears to want Severn for himself and not for his title is hugely tempting, and it’s only when he wakes up the next morning to discover that he’s been robbed of absolutely everything, including the Severn Ring, that he realises he was duped.
More than slightly panicked about the loss of such an important family heirloom, Severn comes up with a story about an evening of wine, women and song to account for the loss and insists he will find the ring and ensure its return. His uncle sputters with outrage while his cousin, Leo, is openly sceptical, quite rightly pointing out that as he’s never had to do anything for himself in his entire life, it’s no wonder the effort to look out for himself ended in disaster. “Good Lord, Sev, you’re held up by a scaffolding of service. No wonder you collapse without it.”
Bristling, Severn refutes his cousin’s assertion that he’d be helpless without the “glory of the Duke of Severn” to smooth his way and suggests a wager. He will fend for himself “without all the advantages of Severn” for a month, at the end of which Leo will tender his apology for doubting him; and if he fails, Severn will make a present of his matched greys, animals he bought as foals, trained himself and which are very important to him. It’s possibly the only thing Leo could have asked for that would make him think twice, but Severn needs that time to go out into the world and get the ring back without anyone looking over his shoulder.
So he sets out for Cheltenham, hoping to pick up the trail of his thieving bed partner. After an unpleasant journey on the stage and an equally unpleasant meal and night at an inn, he starts asking around, becoming more despondent as the day wears on when it becomes apparent to him that he’s looking for a needle in a haystack. At his last inn of the day, he meets a young man whose handsome face seems familiar; although the man’s somewhat shabby attire marks him as down-on-his-luck.
Daizell (rhymes with “hazel”) Charnage has lived all his adult life on the very fringes of society thanks to a combination of his own reckless exploits and a notorious family scandal that has ruined him both financially and socially. He’s a professional hanger-on – a kind of nineteenth century couch-surfer – and is well aware that he’s beginning to run out of friends who are prepared to host him in exchange for his good-natured, easy-going ways and entertainment value. He’s surprised when a slight and somewhat nondescript gentleman introduces himself as Mr. Cassian and seems to know who he is – or at least, knows his reputation (maybe not so surprising) – and even moreso when Cassian asks for his help retrieving a stolen item and offers him a large sum of money for doing so. Daizell can’t think of any reason to turn him down.
The story that follows is an entertaining road trip in which nothing goes smoothly, Cassian discovers himself to be far more resourceful than he’d ever thought he could be and Daizell realises it’s time to stop drifting and find some direction and purpose in life. And between dealing with coach accidents, foiling kidnappers and helping runaway heiresses, Cassian and Daizell, two men who are desperately lonely despite often being surrounded by people, find the time to fall deeply in love.
The Duke at Hazard is definitely one of KJ Charles’ gentler books, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a great deal of fun to be had, whether it’s a chuckle at the rather hapless Cassian realising that his clothes don’t miraculously fold themselves away or at the way he and Daizell work together to bring down the bad guys. I imagine writing a super-wealthy and privileged character and making him sympathetic can be difficult (and in KJ Charles’ books, the aristos are usually the villains!), but she does a great job here of showing Cassian as a complex individual, someone whose privilege is something of a double-edged sword. He may have been protected from the world’s hardships and been brought up by family who love him, but he’s nonetheless isolated by his position (nobody has called him by any name other than his title since he was six) and is struggling to carve an identity beyond his title and obligations. Cassian is short, slight and not especially preposessing; his title is lofty, but he isn’t, and it’s easy to understand why he’s begun to feel so suffocated by it and longs to get away from it and all its trappings. His character growth in the story is spectacular, as he discovers a resourcefulness he never knew he had and learns how to wield his ducal power and influence to make things better for others – and for himself in the long run.
Daizell’s story is heartbreaking. For seven years he’s lived as an outcast after his parents caused a massive scandal, fled the country, and left him behind with nothing. The rumours and gossip that continue to dog him have ensured he ‘knows his place’, and life has done such a good job of beating him down that regaining his footing in society as a gentleman seems impossible. Their romance is sweet and lovely and utterly charming as the pair fall into an easy friendship with a simmering undercurrent of attraction that blossoms into more as the days and weeks pass, each giving the other something they’ve badly needed. Daizell sees Cassian as a man, not a title and clearly likes him for himself, while Cassian’s company, friendship, and his unwavering confidence in Daizell and his ability to come up with plans and schemes at last have Daizell realising that it’s time to stop letting life happen to him and face up to the fact that if he doesn’t bring some sort of order to it, then nobody else will.
It’s easy to see the crisis moment coming a mile off, but the important – and illuminating – thing is how the characters respond to it, and KJ Charles is a master at making her characters work for their eventual forgiveness and HEA. We know and understand Cassian’s reasons for not telling Daizell who he really is, but that doesn’t make it any less devastating when Daizell discovers that the man he’s fallen in love with has been lying by omission the whole time they’ve been together, and his hurt and sense of betrayal are palpable.
The sub-plot, wherein Daizell, Cassian, and some familiar faces team up to expose the villain of the piece is tense and brilliant, and I loved watching Cassian working out how to balance the two sides of him – the man and the duke – to create the best version of himself. The Duke at Hazard is another wonderfully engaging read from KJ Charles and earns a strong recommendation.
Note: While The Duke at Hazard is billed as book two in the Gentleman of Uncertain Fortune series, it’s essentially a standalone, so you don’t need to have read The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting to be able to understand and enjoy it.
The Duke at Hazard is a fun, fast-paced and thoroughly enjoyable historical romance that is, at its heart, a story about growing up, self-discovery and finding that one person who brings out the best in you and helps you to realise your full potential. Being a KJ Charles story there is, of course, plenty of wryly observed social commentary, a dastardly villain who gets his well-deserved comeuppance, a pair of likeable, superbly characterised leads and high-jinks and shenanigans galore.
Vernon Fortesque Cassian George de Vere Crosse, fourth Duke of Severn, has spent his entire life wrapped up in cotton wool. Having inherited his lofty title at the age of six, he was brought up by his uncle Hugo to be fully aware of his responsibilities and his consequence as one of the highest-ranking gentlemen in England. His life is comfortable and he wants for nothing, but he is starting to chafe against the bars of his gilded cage and longs to strike out on his own, to be able throw off the trappings of nobility sometimes and just be… himself, a man and not a duke. Unfortunately however, the one time he does that, it goes horribly wrong. An assignation with a young man who appears to want Severn for himself and not for his title is hugely tempting, and it’s only when he wakes up the next morning to discover that he’s been robbed of absolutely everything, including the Severn Ring, that he realises he was duped.
More than slightly panicked about the loss of such an important family heirloom, Severn comes up with a story about an evening of wine, women and song to account for the loss and insists he will find the ring and ensure its return. His uncle sputters with outrage while his cousin, Leo, is openly sceptical, quite rightly pointing out that as he’s never had to do anything for himself in his entire life, it’s no wonder the effort to look out for himself ended in disaster. “Good Lord, Sev, you’re held up by a scaffolding of service. No wonder you collapse without it.”
Bristling, Severn refutes his cousin’s assertion that he’d be helpless without the “glory of the Duke of Severn” to smooth his way and suggests a wager. He will fend for himself “without all the advantages of Severn” for a month, at the end of which Leo will tender his apology for doubting him; and if he fails, Severn will make a present of his matched greys, animals he bought as foals, trained himself and which are very important to him. It’s possibly the only thing Leo could have asked for that would make him think twice, but Severn needs that time to go out into the world and get the ring back without anyone looking over his shoulder.
So he sets out for Cheltenham, hoping to pick up the trail of his thieving bed partner. After an unpleasant journey on the stage and an equally unpleasant meal and night at an inn, he starts asking around, becoming more despondent as the day wears on when it becomes apparent to him that he’s looking for a needle in a haystack. At his last inn of the day, he meets a young man whose handsome face seems familiar; although the man’s somewhat shabby attire marks him as down-on-his-luck.
Daizell (rhymes with “hazel”) Charnage has lived all his adult life on the very fringes of society thanks to a combination of his own reckless exploits and a notorious family scandal that has ruined him both financially and socially. He’s a professional hanger-on – a kind of nineteenth century couch-surfer – and is well aware that he’s beginning to run out of friends who are prepared to host him in exchange for his good-natured, easy-going ways and entertainment value. He’s surprised when a slight and somewhat nondescript gentleman introduces himself as Mr. Cassian and seems to know who he is – or at least, knows his reputation (maybe not so surprising) – and even moreso when Cassian asks for his help retrieving a stolen item and offers him a large sum of money for doing so. Daizell can’t think of any reason to turn him down.
The story that follows is an entertaining road trip in which nothing goes smoothly, Cassian discovers himself to be far more resourceful than he’d ever thought he could be and Daizell realises it’s time to stop drifting and find some direction and purpose in life. And between dealing with coach accidents, foiling kidnappers and helping runaway heiresses, Cassian and Daizell, two men who are desperately lonely despite often being surrounded by people, find the time to fall deeply in love.
The Duke at Hazard is definitely one of KJ Charles’ gentler books, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a great deal of fun to be had, whether it’s a chuckle at the rather hapless Cassian realising that his clothes don’t miraculously fold themselves away or at the way he and Daizell work together to bring down the bad guys. I imagine writing a super-wealthy and privileged character and making him sympathetic can be difficult (and in KJ Charles’ books, the aristos are usually the villains!), but she does a great job here of showing Cassian as a complex individual, someone whose privilege is something of a double-edged sword. He may have been protected from the world’s hardships and been brought up by family who love him, but he’s nonetheless isolated by his position (nobody has called him by any name other than his title since he was six) and is struggling to carve an identity beyond his title and obligations. Cassian is short, slight and not especially preposessing; his title is lofty, but he isn’t, and it’s easy to understand why he’s begun to feel so suffocated by it and longs to get away from it and all its trappings. His character growth in the story is spectacular, as he discovers a resourcefulness he never knew he had and learns how to wield his ducal power and influence to make things better for others – and for himself in the long run.
Daizell’s story is heartbreaking. For seven years he’s lived as an outcast after his parents caused a massive scandal, fled the country, and left him behind with nothing. The rumours and gossip that continue to dog him have ensured he ‘knows his place’, and life has done such a good job of beating him down that regaining his footing in society as a gentleman seems impossible. Their romance is sweet and lovely and utterly charming as the pair fall into an easy friendship with a simmering undercurrent of attraction that blossoms into more as the days and weeks pass, each giving the other something they’ve badly needed. Daizell sees Cassian as a man, not a title and clearly likes him for himself, while Cassian’s company, friendship, and his unwavering confidence in Daizell and his ability to come up with plans and schemes at last have Daizell realising that it’s time to stop letting life happen to him and face up to the fact that if he doesn’t bring some sort of order to it, then nobody else will.
It’s easy to see the crisis moment coming a mile off, but the important – and illuminating – thing is how the characters respond to it, and KJ Charles is a master at making her characters work for their eventual forgiveness and HEA. We know and understand Cassian’s reasons for not telling Daizell who he really is, but that doesn’t make it any less devastating when Daizell discovers that the man he’s fallen in love with has been lying by omission the whole time they’ve been together, and his hurt and sense of betrayal are palpable.
The sub-plot, wherein Daizell, Cassian, and some familiar faces team up to expose the villain of the piece is tense and brilliant, and I loved watching Cassian working out how to balance the two sides of him – the man and the duke – to create the best version of himself. The Duke at Hazard is another wonderfully engaging read from KJ Charles and earns a strong recommendation.
Note: While The Duke at Hazard is billed as book two in the Gentleman of Uncertain Fortune series, it’s essentially a standalone, so you don’t need to have read The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting to be able to understand and enjoy it.
February 3, 2025
5+ stars
SO SO SO good! It's not easy to write a character with privilege. At least, I assume it's not easy, I've never tried, I just feel like I've read a lot of poor attempts so I assume it's difficult. KJ NAILS IT 🙌
Severn is a Duke who has privilege coming out his ears. Not just wealth, but also a loving and supportive family that's not jealous of him or trying to ruin him. Not much of a tragic upbringing at all (except for the death of his parents at a young age). He understands his privilege and accepts that things are inherently easier for him. And even when things are difficult for him, he's sensitive to the plight of the others. I'm just sad that this series is over now.
SO SO SO good! It's not easy to write a character with privilege. At least, I assume it's not easy, I've never tried, I just feel like I've read a lot of poor attempts so I assume it's difficult. KJ NAILS IT 🙌
Severn is a Duke who has privilege coming out his ears. Not just wealth, but also a loving and supportive family that's not jealous of him or trying to ruin him. Not much of a tragic upbringing at all (except for the death of his parents at a young age). He understands his privilege and accepts that things are inherently easier for him. And even when things are difficult for him, he's sensitive to the plight of the others. I'm just sad that this series is over now.
August 5, 2024
Any other author, this would be a 5-star read -- but judging KJC on her own curve, this wasn't quite top-tier and didn't keep me as engaged as some of her other pairings. That's your own fault for spoiling us with excellence, KJC.
Loved seeing Hart and Robin again, and hats off to an excellent (as always) finale.
Loved seeing Hart and Robin again, and hats off to an excellent (as always) finale.
July 17, 2024
this was fine 🤷♀️ a perfectly okay book, which is disappointing because i love KJ Charles and i was expecting more from this than a fairly straightforward romance...
December 15, 2024
I liked this one a lot. The first couple of sentences made me laugh out loud and even if the humor wasn’t always like that, the duke’s inner monologue was very entertaining. The premise of this story was very interesting and I grew to like a lot the two MCs. Daizell’s story made me feel all sort of things, I wanted to slap people and every time he thought about himself, I wished I could wrap him in a blanket and feed him hot chocolate… Don’t get me wrong, the book, story or characters aren’t in any way bleak and, in quintessentially KJC style, the villain(s)
Cassian was amazing, the kind of character that is just good without getting on your nerves. I loved how he found his place and learned how to be I also liked how his relationship with his family was depicted, it was refreshing to see flawed family members who can be a bit suffocating, but are moved only by love and loyalty, after the scumbags of one of the last KJC books I read.
I loved how Cassian and Daizell complemented each other, they’re so different and so perfect together because of it. The conflict between the MCs was handled perfectly. I was almost as blindsided as Cassian by
Another thing that I appreciated was Martin’s storyline, it started like a big mess on all sides and it ended up working for all parties involved.
This book is part of the Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune series, but it’s linked very, very loosely to the first book. If KJC decides to write more in this universe, I'm ready to read it.
Cassian was amazing, the kind of character that is just good without getting on your nerves. I loved how he found his place and learned how to be I also liked how his relationship with his family was depicted, it was refreshing to see flawed family members who can be a bit suffocating, but are moved only by love and loyalty, after the scumbags of one of the last KJC books I read.
I loved how Cassian and Daizell complemented each other, they’re so different and so perfect together because of it. The conflict between the MCs was handled perfectly. I was almost as blindsided as Cassian by
Another thing that I appreciated was Martin’s storyline, it started like a big mess on all sides and it ended up working for all parties involved.
This book is part of the Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune series, but it’s linked very, very loosely to the first book. If KJC decides to write more in this universe, I'm ready to read it.
June 28, 2024
A Bridgerton-esque MM romance following a Duke who, after an unfortunate tryst, realizes his heirloom ring has been stolen. He must get it back but cannot let anyone know that he has lost it. After his cousin bets that he cannot survive without his privilege and title, the Duke goes incognito, enlisting the help of a disgraced gentleman as they attempt to recover the Duke’s stolen heirloom. What follows is a road trip full of hijinks, social mishaps, romance, and a bit of spice.
This was such a fun and well written book. The author perfectly pulls the reader into this time period with the language used. I laughed out loud a few times and couldn’t help but smile at their budding romance. Recommended for fans of Bridgerton, royalty, MM romances, friends to lovers, road trips, hijinks, and a bit of a spicy time.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a fun and well written book. The author perfectly pulls the reader into this time period with the language used. I laughed out loud a few times and couldn’t help but smile at their budding romance. Recommended for fans of Bridgerton, royalty, MM romances, friends to lovers, road trips, hijinks, and a bit of a spicy time.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2024
For me, KJ Charles is the reigning queen of historical romance, and her latest release is certainly yet another great read.
There is a lot to like here:
.) a duke on a self-searching mission, learning the life of common people
.) a gentlemen done wrong, in dire straits trying to survive
.) two gentle men who dare not hope for love and happiness
.) a romance that builds gradually and sweetly (in the best sense!)
.) adventure and plot twists
.) fabulous historical detail (as you would expect from this author who is passionate about this). Even if the Whist playing session at the end went totally over my head, I could appreciate the cleverness of the writing.
Both MCs are highly likeable, Cassian for his sense of justice and honesty, and Daizell for his vulnerability and willingness not to give up, whatever life has thrown at him.
And their journey in love and life is, as always with this author, expertly told and very entertaining. I particularly loved how they cause the downfall of the ‘baddie’ at the end. Pretty ingenious and very fitting.
But, and there is a small but …
For some reason, my heart wasn’t as entangled in this story as in many others. Yes, I wondered how these two would manage to be together because there are so many hurdles, and I rooted for them all the way, but maybe I missed a little more passion? More yearning? More sizzle? To be honest I'm not even sure what. 🤷🏻♀️
And, for me, (and yes this probably sounds ridiculous) the writing here is probably a teeny bit too narrative-heavy at times.
Small niggles, which didn’t infringe on my overall enjoyment of the book as a whole.
There is a lot to like here:
.) a duke on a self-searching mission, learning the life of common people
.) a gentlemen done wrong, in dire straits trying to survive
.) two gentle men who dare not hope for love and happiness
.) a romance that builds gradually and sweetly (in the best sense!)
.) adventure and plot twists
.) fabulous historical detail (as you would expect from this author who is passionate about this). Even if the Whist playing session at the end went totally over my head, I could appreciate the cleverness of the writing.
Both MCs are highly likeable, Cassian for his sense of justice and honesty, and Daizell for his vulnerability and willingness not to give up, whatever life has thrown at him.
And their journey in love and life is, as always with this author, expertly told and very entertaining. I particularly loved how they cause the downfall of the ‘baddie’ at the end. Pretty ingenious and very fitting.
But, and there is a small but …
For some reason, my heart wasn’t as entangled in this story as in many others. Yes, I wondered how these two would manage to be together because there are so many hurdles, and I rooted for them all the way, but maybe I missed a little more passion? More yearning? More sizzle? To be honest I'm not even sure what. 🤷🏻♀️
And, for me, (and yes this probably sounds ridiculous) the writing here is probably a teeny bit too narrative-heavy at times.
Small niggles, which didn’t infringe on my overall enjoyment of the book as a whole.
August 26, 2025
Ok. This is kind of sappy. And the opening was pretty weak -- I appreciated what it was trying to do, but felt like it failed to convey the intended emotion. But it really picked up when we got the first pov switch, and now I think it's easily the best of this series.
June 4, 2025
“Kissing, open-mouthed and desperate and gleeful, under the night sky, while escaping kidnap. Cassian had never felt less like a duke, or more like himself."
Gosh, The Duke at Hazard was such a fun historical romance.
I mean, this is what I’m talking about. This was basically side quest after side quest while Daizell and Cassian fell for each other—and it was a good time. It was so nice to see these two men be open and honest with each other, and their sexual passion was just as fire as their friendly banter.
Watching them learn about each other, explore new places, and just genuinely enjoy each other's company was great to see. Their relationship was built on vulnerability, honesty, and passion, and the way they were open with each other was just chef’s kiss. I loved them, to be honest.
I actually enjoyed this even more than the first book. KJ Charles does such an amazing job building a world and making you care—really fall—for the people in it. I love getting to read about romance set in these historical worlds they create.
Gosh, The Duke at Hazard was such a fun historical romance.
I mean, this is what I’m talking about. This was basically side quest after side quest while Daizell and Cassian fell for each other—and it was a good time. It was so nice to see these two men be open and honest with each other, and their sexual passion was just as fire as their friendly banter.
Watching them learn about each other, explore new places, and just genuinely enjoy each other's company was great to see. Their relationship was built on vulnerability, honesty, and passion, and the way they were open with each other was just chef’s kiss. I loved them, to be honest.
I actually enjoyed this even more than the first book. KJ Charles does such an amazing job building a world and making you care—really fall—for the people in it. I love getting to read about romance set in these historical worlds they create.
August 1, 2024
Dragged a bit/was too long. Didn't get the feels for these guys. Not necessarily related, but when I look back at some of my favorite books by her, she accomplished more with significantly fewer pages.
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