Summary: The Kiss of a Stranger (The Jonquil Brothers Series #0) by Sarah M. Eden
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 gentleman, 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. Trapped between an unwanted marriage and a hasty annulment, which would leave his reputation tainted and Catherine’s utterly ruined, Crispin begins guiding his wife’s transformation from a socially petrified country girl to a lady of society. Their unfolding relationship reveals encouraging surprises for both of them, and privately, each of them wonders if theirs may become a true marriage of the heart. But their hopes are dashed when forces conspire to split asunder what fate has granted, and as a battle of wits escalates into a life-threatening confrontation, will it be possible for Crispin and Catherine to live happily ever after?
Book Review: The Kiss of a Stranger (The Jonquil Brothers Series #0) by Sarah M. Eden
Following an
attempt to get away from a title pursuing lady, Lord Cavratt makes the
unfortunate mistake of kissing a woman in the garden of an inn and her uncle
forces them to marry against both of their wishes. While awaiting annulment,
Crispin enters what turns out to be a traumatized lady into Society, which
leads to a number of surprises. While the couple grows closer, the confusing
and complicated situation they are in escalates into a life-threatening
confrontation.
The Kiss of a Stranger is the prequel to The Jonquil Brothers Series by Sarah
M. Eden, published by Covenant
Communication Inc. The story is set in London 1814 and focuses on Crispin
Handle, Lord Cavratt who makes the unfortunate mistake of kissing a maid in the
garden of an inn, only the maid turns out to be Miss Catherine Thorndale, whose
abusive uncle pushes for an immediate marriage so he can throw her out. An annulment
would leave both Catherines’s and Crispin’s reputations in shatters. The whole
thing seems a confusing mess with the looming threat of her abusive uncle.
Main character Crispin Handle, Lord Cavratt seems a kind person, if somewhat inexperienced with women. I felt he continuously dropped the ball in his relationship with Catherine. Fortunately he stepped up as the plot progressed.
I felt heart wrenchingly sorry for secondary character
Catherine Adelaide Thorndale. She has musical talent and hidden personal resources.
When life becomes quieter I am very pleased to see she thrives. She is my
favorite character of this story.
I find it jaw dropping how Sarah M. Eden manages to keep
the light hearted writing I enjoy so much in place. The signature funny and
bantering dialogue I love is included.
The least favorite
part of this story I felt were everything to do with uncle Thorndale.
As much as I hated his character I must admit he added a
great dramatic effect to the story. I was surprised by the extreme anger and
violence which made me suspect he was suffering from some kind of mental
disorder.
My favorite part of the story was the romance between
Catherine and Cirpin. I felt it quite amusing how he spent such a long time in
complete denial of his feelings for her. I enjoyed the verbal fencing conducted
in private, which made them get to know each other better and become closer.
Conclusion: The Kiss of a Stranger is the heart wrenching story of a sudden and mistaken
kiss, an unwanted marriage and an unexpected closeness and love developing in
the midst of violence and threat.
I would recommend The Kiss of a Stranger to anyone, particularly fans of Sarah M. Eden or readers of historical fiction. Similar authors to explore might be Julianne Donaldson or Esther Hatch. All opinions in this review are my own.
Rating: 4 stars / 5
Main reasons: interesting plot, great villainous character, fabulous writing,
Get your copy here:
Book Details
Paperback: 252 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc.; 1st edition (January 3, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1608611752
ISBN-13: 978-1608611751
About The Author
Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today Bestselling author of witty and charming historical romances, including Foreword Review’s 2019 INDIES Award finalists The Heart of a Vicar and The Lady and the Highwayman, and 2020 Holt Medallion finalist Healing Hearts. Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a Bachelor's degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. Sarah lives with her husband, kids, and mischievous dog in the shadow of a snow-capped mountain she has never attempted to ski. https://www.sarahmeden.com/
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