The Kiss of a Stranger Review

The Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah M. Eden

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Synopsis

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.

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. As a battle of wits escalates into a life-threatening confrontation, will it be possible for Crispin and Catherine to live happily ever after?

My Review

Sarah M. Eden is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Her Regency novels hit the mark. I loved watching the main characters in The Kiss of a Stranger grow as their unexpected romance flourishes. This book kept me turning pages. In fact, I was late to my dentist appointment because I lost track of time. : ) I loved Catherine's courage and Crispin's compassion. I did get a bit frustrated at Catherine and Crispin's misunderstandings. I wanted to jump in the story and shake some sense into them. I would have rather had them work out their misunderstandings before the final conflict. That being said, the ending left me completely satisfied. I really loved this book and its characters and situations. My favorite scene is when Catherine plays piano at a social gathering-- loved it!!! If you like Regency, you will eat up The Kiss of a Stranger just as I did! I can't wait for Sarah's next book to come out in the fall!