The Soldier's Scoundrel

Usually, I get bored with 1800s British stratified social intrigue. But Jack is such a guarded s***, and Oliver is such a dorky wounded soldier, I was captured. As they figure out what to do with this attraction between them, they also deal with said social boundaries in satisfying ways. I don't know how "realistic" this is historically. I'm not a historian. I accept the "magical" parts of the sex, too, so there you go. There is detail in their emotional learning curves and detail in the settings, I enjoyed the other characters, and the plot. So, all the stars.

Meh. I liked the characters at the start, and enjoyed the mystery plotline, but it turned too saccharine for my tastes at the end. There needed to be a bit more bite left when all was said and done, even if the bite had become more for show than anything else.

As a secondary point, I prefer a slightly higher plot to romance ratio, but up until the very end, I was enjoying this one anyway, due to the character dynamic (until that was lost).

I liked the story. The chemistry between Oliver and Jack was good. They sacrificed something important in their lives to be together at a time when it would have cost them their lives if found out. My only problem was the use of the 18th Century English used. I had to keep looking up terms to understand their meaning, e.g., "Bollock", among others. This turned me off with the story. However, I recommend this book and will purchase another written by Ms. Sebastian.

I've been meaning to read THE SOLDIER'S SCOUNDREL for over a year. Which is about as long as it's been since I knew m/m historical romance was a thing. And while I've read a bunch since and discovered a wonderful array of authors, this is my first read by Sebastian -- and was also her debut! -- and I loved it.

A romance between two people, or in this case two men, of different classes is one of my favourite tropes in this genre. And the author took it one step further by matching up the son of an Earl with a gutter-born man who has turned into something of a fixer for the ladies and lower ranked folk of London. Being blackmailed? Need to arrange for your abusive husband to be sent overseas? Your master not paying you on time (or at all)? Make an appointment with Jack Turner. And it's that very man that Captain Rivington goes to confront after noticing a payment to Jack listed in his sister's ledgers for a sum of two hundred pounds.

The first in this series of interconnected standalones is something of a crime-fighting murder mystery. There's blackmail (obviously) and revenge and intrigue and death and love. Full of twisty speculation and investigation, we see these two unlikely men team up in an effort to solve the whodunnit, even as Oliver battles over his willingness to let Jack have his vigilante-style justice, as well as navigate their attraction and growing fondness for each other. Something they are both aware can't possibly lead to anything with their backgrounds and livelihoods being so different; not to mention the fact that any relationship would have to be hidden from the world anyway.

While I can acknowledge that the ending seemed a bit unlikely for the times, there was something so tragically and hopefully romantic about it and honestly just made me happy because I loved these two. Their chemistry, their banter, their sexytimes.. everything. And the same can be said for the supporting characters; specifically Jack's brother Georgie. And because it's his book next I am unwilling to put off reading Sebatian's other release by saving it for a rainy day. I need that now.

Loved it! Just the right blend of relationship push/pull...then relationship sweetness and angst...paired with the couple of mysteries that Jack was trying to resolve (at times reluctantly) with Oliver's help--perfect! Cat Sebastian's writing too was a whole lot of fun--whether the dialogue was external or internal, there were many, many snippets that I ended up needing to highlight so I could go back later and smile at all over again. Such fun!

Jack and Oliver were a great couple. Of course making your protagonists from different classes in a historical romance gives you built in conflict, but add to that the fact that their very relationship breaks the law? Yeah, that's a whole new element. But oh goodness, with these two they had to be together, they just had to. I was all for Oliver with his sunny optimism on the prospect of their future, but realistically afraid that Jack was going to end up right all along... (Spoiler alert: he's not--because, hello, it's a romance. Fortunately, Ms. Sebastian manages to pull it off in a fairly believable way--I'm not totally convinced it would work, but I want it to, so I'm perfectly willing to go with it.)

I also enjoyed the two puzzles that Jack had to resolve in the course of the book. Neither one of the solutions were obvious, yet the answers came together nicely and made sense. Jack's ability to read people was believable given his past and also highly entertaining--I loved watching him at work! Oliver was better at helping him out than either of us thought he would be; together they gave off an almost Sherlock-and-Watson-in-the-Regency-era vibe.

The secondary characters here were fun too--Jack's brother Georgie was a hoot, and it looks like he's due to star in book #2 (yay!). Jack and Oliver also both have sisters, so... (hint, hint! ;))

A highly entertaining debut from Ms. Sebastian--I am anxiously awaiting her next release!

Rating: 4 stars / A-

--What are the Issues--
Oliver Rivington has recently ended his commission with the military and all he wants is to live life in an orderly fashion that obeys all the laws of good and decent society. He saw what lawlessness was like in war he's desperate to avoid it now that he's home. Jack Turner had a rough upbringing and it's made him cynical and distrustful of the upper classes. Jack believes in doing whatever it takes to survive and his slightly outside the law business practices are not up for judgment.

--What I Liked and Didn’t Liked--
Writing, Pace, Voice -- I'll start by saying that I rarely read historical romance because I'm just not interested in past worlds and ways, particularly the Regency and Victorian era. But this book was very highly recommended so I thought I'd give it a shot. I was wonderfully surprised by how much I enjoyed this and even read it all in one sitting, staying up until 2:30am to finish it. I loved Cat Sebastian's writing and her pace was spot on for me. There was plenty going on in the story and I never felt like it was slow.

Plot and Genre Elements -- I really enjoyed the opposites attract and class differences issues between Jack and Oliver. I also liked Jack's work as a pseudo-investigator and the mystery that the stolen letters added to the story. It was a unique backdrop to bring these two very different characters together and keep them together while they worked out their feelings for each other. I can't say much for the accuracy of the historical elements as I'm not knowledgeable of the genre or era but everything was certainly believable to me.

Hero and Hero -- Jack and Oliver were each great in their own ways and they had me laughing every time they had to deal with the other ones "oddities". Jack was your perfect rogue hero, with a shady reputation but a genuinely good heart. He's use to relying only on himself and he has certain ways he likes to accomplish his goals and he's certainly jaded when it comes to the ton. But even with all his blustering it was really sweet to see how he came to care for Oliver and want to help him whenever necessary. And even though he got involved with someone from the upper classes when he knew he shouldn't, he always strove to keep his dignity and not be ashamed for who or what he was. Oliver himself was also an excellent hero in a slightly more stuffy way -- at least at first. He's lived with the chaos of war so now he wants things orderly and in his control and there's just no way he's going to control Jack. Oliver probably had the most growth in the book because he really had to learn to accept what Jack did and understand that sometimes things aren't so black and white. I also liked his shyer demeanor when it came to the more intimate parts of their relationship and I loved when he really let his wicked side come out.

--Final Thoughts--
A wonderful surprise and truly a big step out of my usual reading but I'm glad I took the chance.

I don't do too many historical romances, but this one was so much fun, and I'm so glad I read it. The characters were fun and interesting and the story even more so.

Jack is a man who is on the very bottom rung of English society, having come from parents of ill repute. After having to stoop to drastic measures to make a living, he's trying to turn himself around, using his skills to help women in difficult situations. It is through a former client of his that he meets Oliver, a gentleman who's just returned home from war, not entirely whole anymore.

Oliver is trying to find his place in life now that he's done with the military. But, he's unsettled with all the things that he found enjoyable before. He meets Jack, and although Oliver doesn't approve of his methods, the work that Jack's doing intrigues him. Even though he doesn't want to, Oliver finds himself thinking of Jack and his newest case often. And before Jack knows it, he has a partner. In more ways than one.

To make matters even more interesting, Jack and Oliver are gay in a time when that was not acceptable. For a man of Oliver's status, he would receive a slap on the wrist and be the topic of all the good gossip for a long while. However, for Jack, if he were caught with a man like Oliver, he could be jailed. Despite knowing the consequences, despite Oliver's issues with Jack's methods, and despite the fact that neither man believes in love or forever, they just can't stay away from one another. Even though Jack knows it would be better for Oliver if they could stay apart.

I loved how Cat Sebastian gave Jack and Oliver some big differences - not just socio-economically, but ideologically, too. Sometimes those disagreements on what's "right" and "wrong" can make or break a couple if one isn't willing to try and see the other's point of view. So, it was interesting to watch Oliver navigate through his thoughts on the matter, especially given his history. But, Oliver wasn't the only one who shifted and changed throughout the course of the book. Oliver had a big effect on Jack and his outlook for the future. So, it was fun to see these two men get thrown for loops.

The mystery of Jack's clients missing letters was a really nice thread woven throughout the story of Oliver and Jack's romance (which, of course, is the REAL story - the main reason why I picked up the book). It was clever and surprising and gave me lots to enjoy in between the steamy encounters and crazy sexual-tension filled scenes.

Even though historical romance isn't my go-to genre, I'm so glad I gave this one a go. It was a fun book, and I'm looking forward to checking out more from Cat Sebastian.

This is a pleasant surprise especially from a debut author. Is rare for me to discover some good historical m/m and when I saw this book, I knew I gotta read it.

Oliver Rivington, the son of Earl and an ex-army, returned to London with a busted knee. He is a straight laced gentleman and highly honorable. He expect things to be perfect order and people to respect the law. When he meet Jack Turner his belief and boundaries are sorely tested.

Jack Turner might appear to be a morally corrupt scoundrel, but underneath his criminally incline disposition lies a man with a good heart. He took in clients who pay him handsomely to solve their problems by skirting the laws.

We have a case of family scandal whereby Jack was hired to investigate and due to Oliver's nosiness and boredom, they both set upon an interesting journey that brings them from the upper class of London's society to the bowel of St. Giles. They are such a miss match pair that it brought forth some funny and awkward moments.

As for the case itself, it was pretty tame and not high in suspense. I don't even care much about the case in the beginning and only feel slightly invested during the last quarter of the book when the truth is unveil.

As for the romance itself, it can be better if the author crank up the heat more. I'm so used to much dirtier m/m romance that this feel rather tame. I would prefer there are more heated glances, more hanky panky and much longer sex scenes. This is merely my personal preference.

However, I did enjoyed the romance between Jack and Oliver. Is a bit of hate at first sight between them with Oliver and Jack having prejudice towards each other. Jack who used to be servant for nobleman, sneer at Oliver high handedness and his perfect manners. Oliver can't even fathom the idea of Jack totally disregard for law.

The fact that they both have such different status in the society is an interesting angle. They live in a period whereby not only they can never come out as homosexual, is not even a good idea to be seen together as acquaintance due to their status difference. I really like the idea that it was Oliver who make the initiatives to be with Jack and show him that a future for them is possible.

I'm really looking forward to the next book about Jack's brother, Georgie. But at the same time, I hope the author will explore more on Oliver and Jack's future. Maybe thrown in another interesting case for Jack to solve with the help from Oliver.

"The Soldier's Scoundrel" by Cat Sebastian. This story tells a tale of two people that fall in love at a time when it's a bit taboo. Jack and Oliver cannot deny their attraction. I truly liked both of these men. Jack, having lived a rougher life than Oliver, comes across a bit gruff but underneath that tough exterior, is a big heart. Oliver certainly fulfills the role of the upper class - a bit snooty at first. Throughout, I grew to adore him as well and the two found places in my heart as they worked together. Ms. Sebastian has done a wonderful job of telling the story of two men from different backgrounds that butt heads to start but the attraction is always there and it sizzles. This is not the most heated story or the most intriguing, yet it still held me in it's grasp throughout. The characters' banter and interaction as they grew to know and love each other. For a debut novel, Ms. Sebastian has done a wonderful job and I look forward to reading more of her works in the future.

What is one to do when one accidently downloads a M/M romance?! Well, one must at least try to read it, and so I did. And let me tell you, it was extremely well written considering it was a debut, and immensely enjoyable.

Both characters were very likable and relatable to the times in which the story was set. My heart went out to both as they try to live in a world that shuns homosexuals.

I truly was pleasantly surprised by the prose, plot and pace. All were in perfect sync and the story was very easy to read and like. I'd like to encourage all my M/F romance readers to give it a try. I promise you'll like it as much as you do all the other romance tropes and genres.

This story had mystery and intrigue, but its romance was the heart of it and I highly recommend it.

Melanie for b2b
Gift copy provided by the publisher for an honest review

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Having initially been put off by the cover, I decided to try it anyway after seeing friends enjoy it. This I'm glad I did, as I spent a good weekend with it.

I was pleasantly surprised with the writing, with Jack and Oliver and the story. It's not a high angst adventure full of car carriage chases rather an exploration into the characters and their effect on each other and their growth because they allowed themselves the possibility to see the other's point of view.

Gorgeously written, heartfelt and SO smart about relationships and class and so much more. I looooooooved the dynamic between these two heroes, who are equals in everything that matters and so very perfectly matched. Swoonworthy, romantic - and by the time I was 30 pages in, I'd already bought Books 2 and 3 in the series! Cat Sebastian is a new favorite author.

Wonderful story of a love between two men of different classes,This is a must read! Usually these type of characters are whispered about in regency romance books but not developed. Cat Sebastian did a wonderful job of exposing their feelings, backgrounds, and dreams; you want to cheer for them and hope they get a chance at staying with their true love.

This was my first read with Cat Sebastian. I remember when I saw the cover in my bookstore and did a double take - wait, those are two men! Now I'm so grateful I moved out of my comfortable genres and gave this a try. The characters are well thought out, and the romance is believable. The plot even reads very well - almost like a gay Sherlock Holmes novel. Definitely recommend giving it a try!