With This Kiss by Victoria Lynne
Release Date: July 1, 2010
Publisher: Dell
Pages: 368 pages
Source: book tour
Beauty and the beast–they were the scandal of the ton….
All eyes feasted on the beautiful flame-haired gambler in London’s most infamous club. But Julia Prentisse was interested only in the rake-turned-recluse whom they now called “The Beast.” She lured him out of the crowded club to a deserted warehouse, where she made her scandalous offer: If he married her and protected her from her uncle, she would help him catch the arsonist who had ruined his life.
An act of heroism had left Morgan burned, scarred for life. But Julia’s bold gaze lit other fires he had long suppressed. And now this glorious stranger was his bride. But when he tried to claim his husbandly rights, she demanded three months grace–three months to know a stranger’s mind, to touch a stranger’s soul, to go where no woman had ever gone before. Into his lonely heart . . . With This Kiss.
Review: I’m obsessed with fairy tales and all things historical romance, so this book was a fantastic fit for me to review. I devoured it, yes devoured, in one sitting and was ready to come back for more once my hand clicked to the last page.
Morgan St. James is known to many as the beast. Once a rake, he now lives in solitude in his beautiful estate away from curious onlookers and those who spout gossip about his reputation and character. Once handsome, he now carries the burden of a scarred body. Maimed in an arsonaist’s fire, he isn’t ugly by any means. Something that as you read you don’t know until about half way through. The scars are on his neck. It is more his reputation as a bitter man that keeps the gossips whispering, that and the tragedy that befell his home so many years previously. Alone, bitter, and without hope, he worries he will die without producing an heir, for who could ever love a beast such as he?
Enter in fiery Julia Pretense, who makes an offer that he can’t refuse. Marry her so she can escape her Uncles’ overbearing presence and she’ll help him find the person responsible for the arson that stole everything from him.
Together they search throughout the ton to find the man responsible. The same man that has been sending Julia love letters for the past few months. As the action unfolds the tension between the two main characters builds in a very satisfying way.
I found myself drawn in to Morgan’s plight more than Julia’s, I felt sorry for him. That so many people would believe him to be a monster based on something that wasn’t his fault to begin with is very believable. People only believe what they want to believe and because he lived such a charmed life it would make sense that those out to destroy him would be happy of his failures. It is very true of that era and the author does a good job conveying this.
All in all I would give the book the rating Lovely Rose. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
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