The Servant and the Gentleman

The Servant and the Gentleman by Annabelle Greene Society of Beasts #3 Excellent – Thoroughly enjoyed this addition to the series – Wonder if this is the end, if there will be more, or if there might be a spin-off in the future – Hope so! What I liked: * Josiah Balfour: Administrator for the Society of Beasts, from a humble background, has worked hard to become who he is, has dreams and some include one of the Beasts * William Hartley: wealthy, privileged, rude, doesn’t see much around him, focused on himself, fashion conscious, dealing with terrors, grows a great deal in this story * Getting to see how some characters from previous books are doing * Thomas: baker, supportive, good listener, would like to know more about him * Samuel: Josiah’s cousin, seeks a future in London, has a few secrets, is integral to the story – wouldn’t mind hearing more about him in the future * Robin Guppy: Josiah’s first assistant, has secrets of his own, admirable, another person of interest for a book of his own * That the book drew me in, made me feel and care, and think * The idea that perhaps such societies as the Beasts Society and Cambrill Club could have existed and done what they did in this story * The discussion of clothing * The dialogue – open, honest, real * That I could see Balfour and Hartley together by the end of the book * Contemplating what the future holds in store for the characters in this series * Wondering if Lord Maurice and Lady Ploverdale might end up together * All of it really except… What I didn’t like: * Thinking about how difficult it must have been for those not in conformity with social expectations when choosing one’s life partner – the laws were reprehensible and horrific * Thinking about the “divide” between classes Did I enjoy this book? Yes Would I read more by this author? Definitely Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press for the ARC – This is my honest review. 5 Stars

I loved the dynamic between Hartley and Balfour. This is a great story with an enemies-to-lovers vibe. The sexual tension between them was palpable. They need each other to save the Society of Beasts but things go in a direction that I never saw coming. There wasn’t one thing I didn’t like about this book. I suspect that this is the final book in the series; I’m sorry to see it end. The only thing that could make me love this story more would be for Cornell Collins to perform the audiobook.

Josiah is the administrator of the Society of Beasts, a gentleman's club for men who prefer men. When a rival club in Bath threatens to steal away their members, it's up to him to learn all he can about it. Hartley, the son of a nobleman, agrees to pose as his lover so they can infiltrate the other club. But when their travels lead them to lodgings with only one bed, the charade becomes all too real. Can they overcome their class differences and find a future together? Josiah and Hartley are as alike as they are different. Temperamentally, they're both bristly, but Josiah's social class forces him to keep his thoughts to himself. Hartley, on the other hand, tends to speak without thinking, only to regret it later. He's also blind to his privilege, and Josiah is only too happy to point out his flaws in that area. Hartley's trauma-induced claustrophobia humanizes him, and I appreciate how the author deals with this issue. I also enjoyed how the author handled the class issues. She didn't try to flatten the hierarchy that pervaded British society at the time. Instead, she focused on the importance of treating everyone with respect and compassion. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.