Review: His Scandalous Kiss by Sophie Barnes
His Scandalous Kiss
Secrets at Thorncliff Manor #3
By: Sophie Barnes
Releasing July 26, 2016
Book Summary
Thorncliff Manor is the perfect setting for a masquerade ball . . . where the heart’s secret desires are about to be uncovered in this scintillating Regency romance from Sophie Barnes
Richard Heartly has exiled himself from society since the war, plotting his revenge for a terrible betrayal. A masked ball at Thorncliff Manor is intended to be a brief diversion. Instead, he encounters a fascinating young woman as entranced by the music as he is. He can’t reveal his identity to Lady Mary. But her siren song keeps drawing him back, and their clandestine meetings could be hazardous to his plan—and to her virtue . . .
Avoiding an unwanted marriage was easy when Lady Mary was ignored by the ton. Thanks to her dazzling appearance at the masquerade, she’s a wallflower no longer. Eligible suitors abound, yet the only man she wants is the brooding, seductive companion who keeps his face hidden. A man who tempts her to disclose her own shocking secret, one that could divide them forever . . .
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My Thoughts
*ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review*
His Scandalous Kiss is a richly layered, vividly detailed historical romance that I couldn’t put down. The characters were mysterious and intriguing, cautious and intelligent, strong and yet, vulnerable, too. Such a fascinating mix of traits, and I found I liked the characters interactions a lot. This is one of those books capable of sweeping you away to another time, another world, and I loved my visit there.
I have long enjoyed reading stories that contain masquerade balls. The anonymity that comes from characters wearing masks appeals to me quite a bit, most likely because it provides a deeper look at how the characters see each other. There is still a little of the surface beauty when the characters first notice one another, but that’s dampened somewhat by the masks they wear, forcing the characters to interact on a more intellectual level than they otherwise might have.
The hero, Richard Heartly, is a somewhat reclusive, haunted, and revenge driven man who is trying to reintegrate into society while also keeping his identity at the masquerade ball a secret. The heroine, Lady Mary, is a bright, independent young woman with no interest in marriage, and yet, there is something about the hero that calls her attention, and something about her that draws his attention as well. Of course, thanks to the masks they wear to the ball, neither knows what the other looks like or even the other’s real name, which made for an intriguing start to this incredibly well written story.
Filled with mystery, suspense, intriguing secrets, and a beautiful romance, His Scandalous Kiss proved to be a fantastic read with a smart memorable heroine and a tortured and equally memorable hero. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone looking for a well-written, well-told historical romance story.
Final Analysis
A must read historical romance!
5 “Don’t miss this book!” Stars
About the Author
Born in Denmark, Sophie Barnes spent her youth traveling with her parents to wonderful places all around the world. She’s lived in five different countries, on three different continents, and speaks Danish, English, French, Spanish and Romanian. She has studied design in Paris and New York and has a bachelor’s degree from Parsons. But, most impressive of all, she’s been married to the same man three times—in three different countries and in three different dresses.
While living in Africa, Sophie turned to her lifelong passion: writing. When she’s not busy dreaming up her next romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, cooking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading. She currently lives on the East Coast.