Review: The Soldier's Scoundrel

THE SOLDIER'S SCOUNDREL
Cat Sebastian
M/M Historical Romance
352 pages
Avon
Available September 20th
Source: eARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
A scoundrel who lives in the shadows

Jack Turner grew up in the darkness of London's slums, born into a life of crime and willing to do anything to keep his belly full and his siblings safe. Now he uses the tricks and schemes of the underworld to help those who need the kind of assistance only a scoundrel can provide. His distrust of the nobility runs deep and his services do not extend to the gorgeous high-born soldier who personifies everything Jack will never be.

A soldier untarnished by vice

After the chaos of war, Oliver Rivington craves the safe predictability of a gentleman's life-one that doesn't include sparring with a ne'er-do-well who flouts the law at every turn. But Jack tempts Oliver like no other man has before. Soon his yearning for the unapologetic criminal is only matched by Jack's pleasure in watching his genteel polish crumble every time they're together.

Two men only meant for each other

MY THOUGHTS 
The Soldier's Scoundrel is a delightful M/M historical romance, both our heroes strong and vulnerable at the same time as they navigate their fledgling relationship as well as attempt to unravel a case of blackmail.

Jack Turner is very decidedly not a gentleman. He merits no invitations to balls or any other kind of polite Society function, and he's all the more glad for it. His comfort zone is one a little less in the limelight and a little more in the shadows, helping those the law isn't always able to with a devil-may-care grin on his face. When he's given little other choice than to team up with Oliver, the very definition of a Gentleman, he does so grudgingly, and we're treated to a mildly antagonistic relationship that simmers with more than a little heat. He of course holds Oliver's status as the son of an earl against him, but does so in a flirtatious manner that often takes the sting out of his words, and as he begins to see the man behind the title, he thankfully doesn't fight too hard to let it be an insurmountable obstacle between them.

Oliver, for his part, can't assign many positive attributes to Jack initially either, intent on proving Jack's way of "helping" people involves much darker deeds than it actually does, and finding it hard to trust that what he sees with Jack is what he gets. The two of them together are a delicious tangle of banter and chemistry, pushing each other's buttons on purpose just to incite a reaction but never going so far as to cause unnecessary drama or angst. Though this pair isn't overly chatty when it comes to their feelings, they don't shy away from them either, communicating effectively when things go amiss and remedying the various disagreements and missteps before hurt feelings have time to fester.

Overall, The Soldier's Scoundrel is a joy of a historical romance from beginning to end, giving us a memorable couple, plenty of tension sexual and otherwise, and of course the desired happy ending to top it all off.

Rating: 4/5

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This book was sent to me by the publisher  free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.