The Kiss of a Stranger
England
2011
252
When Crispin, Lord Cavratt, thoroughly and scandalously kisses a serving woman in the garden of a country inn, he assumes the encounter will be of no consequence. But he couldn't be more mistaken--the maid is not only a lady of birth, she's the niece of a very large, exceptionally angry gentlemen, who claims Crispin has compromised his niece beyond redemption. The dismayed young lord has no choice but to marry Miss Catherine Thorndale, who lacks both money and refinement and assumes all men are as vicious as her guardian uncle.
My Review:
Ms. Eden’s regencies books have proven to be addicting. I have re-read her books many times. I had a very hard time putting this one in particular down. Since it is on the shorter side, you can really fly through it.
At first the premise, it is a little hard to start with, because of the hero and heroine are forced into a marriage all because of a mis-timed kiss.
I was really impressed by the characters in this story, and the way their relationships grew.
Crispin (which sounds like a cookie name) is an all-round decent man with a wicked sense of humor, style, wit, and a degree of sensitivity that usually isn’t found in romantic hero. Most of the time you get a gambler, rake, and a man with a deep-dark-secret-past. So it was a refreshing change for once.
Catherine was such a lovely character, much like Crispin, but has a past that makes Crispin come to her rescue. Catherine is very intelligent and has plenty of wit and charm. One thing I really liked about her was her sass! However, with her past, she has experienced physical and emotional abuse, which makes her overwhelmed with Crispin’s kindness, tenderness, and generosity.
Overall, I thought is was an excellent read. This was the first book I read by Sarah Eden, but it will not be my last!
Watch Out For: Kissing, abusive Uncle, and mild violence.
