His Scandalous Kiss
By: Sophie Barnes
Released: July 26th, 2016
Avon Romance
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 . . .
Richard Heartly was betrayed by his brothers in arms and left for torture at the hands of the French. And when no one believes he survived, he did! But he lives in a self-imposed exile for 5 years, hiding his scars from the world.
But at the request of a dear family friend Lady Duncaster, so under that obligation, He attends her masquerade ball at Thorncliff Manor; but what he never expects is to fall in love with a women who stands out from the rest of Ton by simply wanting to get to know him as a person, before he reveals what is under his mask...and that women is Lady Mary!
Just when everything seems to be going right, a traitor reveals himself and attempts to destroy everything Richard and Mary have!
I have never read any of the Thorncliff Manor books before, but that honestly didn't matter, as His Scandalous Kiss can be read as a standalone novel, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to go back and read the first 2 books (which I'm totally planning to do).
The writing and the plot of this book were well written which made it a simply delicious read. The book were well paced, detailed, well researched and without fluff and ridiculousness. I'm not normally for historical romantic suspense, but I found this book just too good to put down!
When it comes to the characters, I have to say, I was totally in love with Richards character by chapter 3! And loved him even more when you learn of the pain and torture he managed to survived through! I also loved Mary's character and her dedication to her family. You can't help but agree with her of her views of marrying for love and her dedicated to her family. I will completely admit I was blown away by whom the traitor was! And his actions at the Manor astounded me! But I could literally go on and on about this book, that's how much I loved it!
I give His Scandalous Kiss 5 well deserved stars!
Forcing back all thought of potentially kissing
his way down the side of her neck and over the smooth skin of her shoulder,
Richard struggled to gain control. “Perhaps it is the atmosphere,” he
suggested. “Masquerades do have a tendency to encourage more carefree behavior.”
“I suppose it must be because of the anonymity.
Hidden behind masks, people have the opportunity to do things they would not
otherwise dare to consider.”
“Such as?”
She pursed her lips, which made her look adorably
cheeky. “A shy gentleman might suddenly feel emboldened, allowing him the
courage he needs to ask a lady to dance.”
“I hope you are not suggesting that I might be
shy, for I can assure you that I am anything but.” Not entirely true, though he
preferred apprehensive.
“And yet I have no clue about your identity. In
truth, you could be anyone, perhaps even a groomsman who happened to chance
upon some quality clothing.”
“I see your point. But if I were a groomsman,
would I be as well-read as you know me to be?” Emboldened by their light
repartee, the magical touch that the evening provided, and the reminder that
nobody knew who he was, Richard moved his hands to her waist and lifted her
right off the ground. He heard her suck in her breath while several onlookers
gasped in confounded shock. Heedless of it all, he proceeded to swing Lady
Eleanor around while spinning in a wide circle.
“That was far too daring,” she chastised as soon
as he set her back on her feet and resumed their previous pace.
“Tell me you did not enjoy every second of it.”
Setting her mouth in a firm line, she looked away
from him. “Everyone is watching,” she eventually said, not answering his
question. “My aunt does not look the least bit pleased.”
“Then it is fortunate that I care more about your
opinion than I do about your aunt’s.”
The corner of her mouth twitched. “You are
intolerable. What if you had dropped me?”
“A gentleman never drops a lady.” Twirling her
around, he led her between two other couples.
“Perhaps not, but then again, we have not yet
established that you are in fact a gentleman. For all I know, you could be a
scoundrel.”
“I can assure you that I am no such thing.”
Dipping his head, he whispered close to her ear. “In time, you will learn that
I value honesty and dependability. That I consider a man’s honor to be
paramount to his character. So I would be much obliged if you would refrain
from suggesting otherwise, even if you only meant to do so in jest.
Briefly closing her eyes, she gave a little nod.
“Forgive me,” she whispered, regret marring her features. “I did not mean to
insult you in any way.
“I know.” The music gradually faded and their
movements slowed until they came to a gliding halt. Stepping back, Richard
offered Lady Eleanor a bow while she curtseyed in return. He didn’t like the
tonehe’d just taken with her, but it was too late for that now. “Will you join
me for a walk in the garden?” he asked, stiffly offering her his arm. He was
suddenly desperate to smooth away the tight expression that he’d caused.
“As lovely as that sounds, I am not so sure that
it is going to be possible,” she said, her eyes fixed on a spot directly behind
his left shoulder.
Turning, Richard winced as he spotted an older
woman bearing down on him with Lady Duncaster in pursuit. “Your aunt, I
presume?”
“Yes. With Mama and Papa abroad, I am presently
under her protection.” She looked up at him with calmness in her eyes. “No need
to worry. She is not as fierce as she looks. Just be polite.”
Squaring his shoulders, Richard stood his
groundas Lady Eleanor’s aunt came to a halt before him. She was a slim woman
with delicate features, possessing a chin that was sharper than most. Her dark
brown hair was streaked with random lines of silver, and in front of her eyes,
she held a lorgnette surrounded by a vast array of colorful feathers.
“Signor Antonio,” Lady Duncaster said, coming up
alongside her, “May I present my dear friend, Lady Foxworth?”
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,
Countess.” Reaching for her tiny hand, Richard bowed over it while hoping that
his gallantry would win him her favor.
“Thank you,” she said as she peered up at him
from behind her lorgnette. “You clearly have me at a disadvantage. Will you
please tell me who you are? I should also like to know why you presumed to have
the right to dance with my niece in such a scandalous manner.”
Every muscle in Richard’s body grew taught. Was
it just his imagination, or was his cravat more restrictive now than it had
been earlier? With rigidity, he met Lady Foxworth’s assessing gaze. “I must
apologize for allowing myself to get carried away during the dance. It was not
my intention to offend anyone. As to my name . . . I am afraid that Signor
Antonio will have to suffice.”
Lady Foxworth pressed her lips together in a firm
line of disapproval. Beside him, Richard sensed Lady Eleanor’s surprise. Like
her aunt, she’d probably expected him to reveal himself when asked to do so.
“Unfortunately that is not good enough,” Lady
Foxworth said. “Not when I am responsible for my niece’s reputation.”
“I can vouch for his character,” Lady Duncaster
said with a hasty look in Richard’s direction. “Signor Antonio comes from a
very respectable family—a family with whom an association would be a coup.”
Raising her chin a notch, Lady Foxworth was
silent for a moment and Richard realized that he was holding his breath in
anticipation of what she might say next. “I have always trusted your judgment,”
Lady Foxworth eventually told Lady Duncaster,
“but I am afraid that my conscience will not allow me to do so in this
instance. Unless I am made aware of Signor Antonio’s exact identity, then I am
afraid that I cannot allow him to continue socializing with my niece.”
Closing his eyes on the finality of her words,
Richard expelled the breath he’d been holding. Silently, he cursed the fear
that kept him from living and the hatred that fueled his vendetta. Because in
spite of what Lady Eleanor had told him—that she had no desire to marry—the way
in which she responded to him suggested that he might be able to change her mind
if he was allowed the chance to do so.
“What if he confides in me?” Lady Eleanor asked,
cultivating this idea.
Lady Foxworth regarded him shrewdly. “I do not
believe that he is prepared to do so. Are you, Signor?”
Heart hammering in his chest, Richard forced
himself not to look at Lady Eleanor. He didn’t want to see the hope brimming in
her eyes or the disappointment that would take its place when he said what had
to be said. “Not yet.”
As soon as the words were out, he felt as though
a cavern had been carved into the ground, separating him from the woman who
stood by his side. Tonight, for the first time in years, he’d felt a sliver of
hope that the happy future he’d always dreamed of might one day be his—if he
could only win Lady Eleanor’s affection. Unwilling to give up completely, he
said, “Perhaps in time—”
“No,” Lady Foxworth said, her hand slicing the
air between them. “You have every right to keep your secrets, Signor, but until
I am made aware of what they are and have been reassured that they pose no threat
to my niece’s reputation or happiness, then you will stay away from her. Is
that clear?”
The ultimatum was not to Richard’s liking even
though he understood Lady Foxworth’s reasoning completely. Had he been in her
shoes, he would have made the same demand. “Yes.” He spoke the word with
difficulty.
Lady Foxworth finally allowed a faint smile.
“Thank you. I appreciate your understanding.”
Clenching his jaw, Richard nodded. “If you will
excuse me,” he said with a curt bow directed at Lady Foxworth and Lady
Duncaster. Turning toward Lady Eleanor, his heart ached at the sight of her
pained expression. “It has been a pleasure.”
She gave him a bleak little nod, but said nothing in response. Turning
his back on her, Richard walked away without a backward glance, his pace brisk
as he strode toward the French doors leading into the house. Rushing through
the well-lit hallway, he marched toward the stairs, climbing them quickly in his
haste to return to his bedchamber and the darkness that beckoned within.
Born in Denmark, Sophie Barnes spent her youthtraveling 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. But, most impressive of all,
she's been married to the same man three times—in three different countries and
in three different dresses.
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.
