A Gentleman Tutor

This was a bit of a disappointment after all the good reviews. A lot of the writing is overly flowery or obtuse that it was sometimes hard to understand what the author or the main character, Frank/Francis, was trying to say. Something like the nature of his injury, as a major plot point, needs to be more clear - I wasn't even sure if he was partially or fully castrated or not until the salve rubdown scene and even then I wasn't at 100%.
Most importantly, the relationship between Frank and Gracie didn't feel like it had a natural progression, going from 0 to 60 very unnaturally and making me uncomfortable. Mid-book, we have Frank laughing to himself that he's in love with his student a mere week or two after they've first met and have hardly spoken about anything other than geography or Gracie's very unhealthy relationship with Dixie, when ever since returning from the war Frank was of the mind that he'd never be able to love a man as a man (due to his at-this-point-unclear groin injury plus the laws of the era). This “revelation” of his also comes after he walks in on Dixie and Gracie in very brutal and very public S&M session in the front hall, while the Lord (Gracie's dad) is actually home. Frank saves them from the Lord's discovery with what reads like a slapstick comedy scene but that is so poorly written that it's hard to follow.
Frank's various lectures in colonialism was definitely the author trying to get a point across and didn't seem like something a 25 year old Regency ex-soldier would choose as his first (and seemingly only) lesson nor that a spoiled 20 year old viscount would be particularly interested in, enough to kick out his best friend/lover over the tutor's hurt feelings. Dixie's attitude, while grating, was much more realistic as opposed to Gracie's wide-eyed innocent interest. Gracie was also written ridiculously child-like even as well-travelled, sexually experienced, and just as old as he is - another reason this relationship was uncomfortable to read.
Overall, this book feels wholly unrealistic and doesn't have enough smut to make it a pulp romance though the writing is at that level. This is one you can skip.