Jared,
Earl of Hawkesly is a jack-of-all-trades - part spy, sometimes advisor to the queen and
many other things besides. But right now, he’s in a bit of hurry to return to his
family estate and assume the role of husband to his lovely bride of almost two years, whom
he’d not seen from five minutes after the hasty wedding ceremony, which took place on
the deck of a ship halfway around the world! And he greatly looks forward to meeting and
most importantly bedding his young bride!
However,
a big surprise awaits poor Jared when he finally returns. He gets the first nasty shock
when he finds that someone had turned his hunting lodge into a sportsman’s arena and
which’s filled to bursting with zealous fishermen participating in the annual fishing
tournament. He gets a second shock when he discovers that it is his own innocent blushing
bride, who turns out to be a shrewd businesswoman, who’s in charge of the whole
transformation! The third and greatest shock comes when he realizes that Kate doesn’t
recognize him!
The
spy in him rears his head and on the spot, he invents an alias as well as a cover story so
that he can investigate her plans and uncover her intentions without her suspecting
anything. As a result, in the guise of Colonel Huddleswell, he discovers that Kate had
transformed his prestigious manor into an orphanage for the children affected by the Irish
Potato Famine, and that there is very little about his bride that he can call predictable!
But in spite of his all, his desire for this beautiful young woman only grows with time
and this makes him a dangerously sexy adversary indeed!
What
about Kate in the meantime? Fed up with a husband whose face she barely recalled, this
determined young woman has taken charge of her life and his estate as
well as coffers, and put it all to very good humanitarian use! When a rude Colonel
threatens to upset all her plans, she’s simultaneously irritated as well as
intrigued. Will temptation lead her astray? Or will this astute lady discover the impostor
in their midst?!
“The
Pleasure of her Kiss”,
Linda Needham’s first book in the “Gentleman Rogue” series is
a story with strong romantic content as well it’s of a sensitive emotional nature.
Add some comedy and suspense to this, and it becomes well nigh impossible to resist or put
down!
Jared
and Kate make a wonderfully well-matched pair as they wage a fascinating war of love and
responsibility. The situation is tailor-made for misunderstandings and naturally, a lot of
laughs ensue, comical situations and complexities flourish. But these two are not merely
shallow characters – they’re very real, with flaws as well as good points. They
also appear to be complete opposites and as a result always take opposing views. But
frivolous arguments aside, they’re also very different in their thinking when it
comes to some important as well as potentially treasonous situations. How it is all
resolved, makes for compelling reading. Needham’s Kate is also somewhat
scientifically progressive and her forward thinking, her compassion and deeply rooted
desire to right the wrongs of the world, make her a truly unique as well admirable
heroine! There is also plenty of passion, as Jared cannot hide his growing desire for his
wife, who in turn, innocently tempts him with her varied and sensuous globetrotting
experiences! And then there are plenty of tiny imps running about, charming, mischievous
and utterly adorable. The plot, while not overtly suspenseful, still has enough rousing
highlights to make it interesting.
Another
interesting fact is that Ms. Needham has introduced the authentic historical fact of the
Irish Potato Famine and with sensitivity showed its cause and the disastrous results which
left countless Irish literally starving to deaths.
In
short, “The Pleasure of her Kiss” can easily be labeled a
modern-day romantic “Comedy of Errors”, with a bit of seriousness thrown in for
added complexity!!
Reviewed
By Rashmi Srinivas for The Road to Romance
October
6, 2003 |
