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Just One Kiss
Just a Dream
Cheated out of her inheritance by a willful stepmother, Lady Elizabeth Stanton follows Nathaniel O'Connor to America—eager to accept the dashing shipbuilder's proposal of marriage. But it is a stranger who greets the penniless miss at her intended's door—the true owner of the grand Boston mansion, Nathaniel's handsome, secretive and insufferable older brother, Morgan.
Just One Kiss
The cruel treachery of a disloyal sibling left Morgan angry and bitter—but he takes in the cad's forsaken fiancée nonetheless. And when one stolen kiss threatens scandal, he offers to wed the proud, golden-haired beauty himself. But Elizabeth is devoted to a rogue. And Morgan must first conquer his own pain and suspicion to know a passion that can thaw a frozen heart...and a love that can heal all wounds.
Cheated out of her inheritance by a willful stepmother, Lady Elizabeth Stanton follows Nathaniel O'Connor to America—eager to accept the dashing shipbuilder's proposal of marriage. But it is a stranger who greets the penniless miss at her intended's door—the true owner of the grand Boston mansion, Nathaniel's handsome, secretive and insufferable older brother, Morgan.
Just One Kiss
The cruel treachery of a disloyal sibling left Morgan angry and bitter—but he takes in the cad's forsaken fiancée nonetheless. And when one stolen kiss threatens scandal, he offers to wed the proud, golden-haired beauty himself. But Elizabeth is devoted to a rogue. And Morgan must first conquer his own pain and suspicion to know a passion that can thaw a frozen heart...and a love that can heal all wounds.
375 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1996
27 people are currently reading
550 people want to read
About the author
Samantha James
91 books504 followersGrowing up in Joliet, Illinois, Samantha James had many childhood aspirations--being a writer was never one of them. When she was ten, she was certain she was destined to be an astronomer. That soon changed (happened a lot during those pre-teen years!) when she decided archaeology was in her future. Detective work was her next goal, thanks to the Trixie Belden mysteries she was reading, and before long, nursing beckoned (courtesy of the Cherry Ames series). In college, she set her sights on teaching history, then briefly entertained the notion of becoming a flight attendant, only to discover she did not like to fly.
Having been raised in a family of avid readers, she was rarely without a book in hand. Her tastes were rather eclectic. She got hooked on the Doc Savage series and Edgar Rice Burroughs after her older brother finished them, in her teen years, moved on to Agatha Christie, Daphne DuMaurier, and Phyllis A. Whitney.
In the meantime, the right guy came along. They met on a semi-blind date at an office Christmas party. She was told he wanted to go out with her, and he was told she wanted to go out with him. Six months later, the U.S. Army shipped him off to Germany--and she wrote faithfully at least three times a week--she often jokes this was the start of her writing career!
Marriage followed, as well as three daughters. Samantha left the detective work to her husband and turned her attention to raising their girls. When her youngest was six months old, two things happened: 1) she read Moonstruck Madness by Laurie McBain and scrambled to find every historical romance she could lay her hands on; 2) her older brother revealed he was writing and submitting his short stories to big-name magazines. As he put it, "I've been rejected by the best of 'em."
The seed was planted. Rejection was a dreaded word, but Samantha figured, "Well, if he can take it, so can I."
That summer, she wrote not one book, but three--longhand, in a notebook, during naptime. Bedtime. Any time she could. The burning desire to write was a long time in coming--she was nearing thirty by then--but she discovered that once she set pen to paper, she couldn't stop.
Those three manuscripts did get the dreaded rejection letter (they're still languishing somewhere in her attic), but she finally hit pay dirt with her fourth. Samantha's brother promptly proposed collaborating on a fantasy together--alas, still unwritten... Nowadays, she's firmly convinced she's the queen of rejected titles for her books. She's only managed to retain two original titles thus far, but writing is indeed a dream come true...
To date, her books have been published in numerous foreign countries (her daughters' number one choice for show-and-tell were always the foreign editions of Mom's books). Known for her heartfelt, emotionally charged "three-hanky reads", her books have been nominated for numerous awards, and have consistently hit the bestseller lists.
Maybe someday she'll do that fantasy-romance collaboration with her brother. For now, she's having a great time spinning dramatic, passionate tales of old...
Having been raised in a family of avid readers, she was rarely without a book in hand. Her tastes were rather eclectic. She got hooked on the Doc Savage series and Edgar Rice Burroughs after her older brother finished them, in her teen years, moved on to Agatha Christie, Daphne DuMaurier, and Phyllis A. Whitney.
In the meantime, the right guy came along. They met on a semi-blind date at an office Christmas party. She was told he wanted to go out with her, and he was told she wanted to go out with him. Six months later, the U.S. Army shipped him off to Germany--and she wrote faithfully at least three times a week--she often jokes this was the start of her writing career!
Marriage followed, as well as three daughters. Samantha left the detective work to her husband and turned her attention to raising their girls. When her youngest was six months old, two things happened: 1) she read Moonstruck Madness by Laurie McBain and scrambled to find every historical romance she could lay her hands on; 2) her older brother revealed he was writing and submitting his short stories to big-name magazines. As he put it, "I've been rejected by the best of 'em."
The seed was planted. Rejection was a dreaded word, but Samantha figured, "Well, if he can take it, so can I."
That summer, she wrote not one book, but three--longhand, in a notebook, during naptime. Bedtime. Any time she could. The burning desire to write was a long time in coming--she was nearing thirty by then--but she discovered that once she set pen to paper, she couldn't stop.
Those three manuscripts did get the dreaded rejection letter (they're still languishing somewhere in her attic), but she finally hit pay dirt with her fourth. Samantha's brother promptly proposed collaborating on a fantasy together--alas, still unwritten... Nowadays, she's firmly convinced she's the queen of rejected titles for her books. She's only managed to retain two original titles thus far, but writing is indeed a dream come true...
To date, her books have been published in numerous foreign countries (her daughters' number one choice for show-and-tell were always the foreign editions of Mom's books). Known for her heartfelt, emotionally charged "three-hanky reads", her books have been nominated for numerous awards, and have consistently hit the bestseller lists.
Maybe someday she'll do that fantasy-romance collaboration with her brother. For now, she's having a great time spinning dramatic, passionate tales of old...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
October 25, 2018
"Just One Kiss" delivers a Haunting and Passionate Romantic Tale set in the early 1800s, where our brave heroine Elizabeth Stanton leaves England to marry her fiance, but instead stumbles upon his brooding and fiery older brother Morgan O`Connor. While Elizabeth instantly dislikes him for his bold arrogance, Morgan sees himself falling passionately in love with her- and when there will be no other choice than to marry her, he takes the chance immediately.
I just L.O.V.E how their romance flowed throughout the story, it was powerful and sexy.
Elizabeth is a heroine i directly liked and later on came to love. Her bitch of a step-mother disinherits her, and it must have taken strong will-power to leave a home she had known all her life. She gets hurt when she knows that her fiance Nathaniel were not going to marry her for the reasons she thought. She was aware of Morgan before she married him as he had never met a man like him, and how i like it that she later on decided to give their marriage a chance. And Morgans wonderful reaction to it left me in tears, he so much wanted her love!
Morgan is a very and VERY special hero-despite being a Temperal Alpha, he had this Golden side of him that i just found so irresistible! He sacrificed EVERYTHING for his younger brother Nathaniel ever since their mother died. He took beatings from their drunkard of a father for Nathaniel, already from a 10-years old boy he worked hard and in his early teens he became a sailor to get clothes and education for Nathaniel. I have to say that i REALLY hated Nathaniel for the hell he put Morgan through-Jeezuz after all Morgan did for him he SHOULD have worshipped him. Well in the end as Elizabeth did i did feel sorry for him, as the weak fool he is...and he did the right thing in the end. It was big of him, so i came to forgive him.
Poor Morgan despised himself for desiring his brothers bride-to be, but simply couldn`t keep away from her, and he does take the chance to marry her without a wink, which made me giggle. A very jealous and possessive hero, and OH SO madly in love with his heroine, their passion was so fiery that i thought my eyes were burning. And the angst- Oh the angst are so delicious that i totally swooned.
The epilogue are AMAZING and made me cry- Yeah i am such a sucker for Romance, and Morgan and Elizabeth were that together, ROMANTIC! This book is NOT to be missed! I love Morgan and Elizabeth (SO SO SO MUCH!) and i love their epic love-story in "Just one Kiss", after all, it was with this just one kiss that Morgan realized that he loves her...
I just L.O.V.E how their romance flowed throughout the story, it was powerful and sexy.
Elizabeth is a heroine i directly liked and later on came to love. Her bitch of a step-mother disinherits her, and it must have taken strong will-power to leave a home she had known all her life. She gets hurt when she knows that her fiance Nathaniel were not going to marry her for the reasons she thought. She was aware of Morgan before she married him as he had never met a man like him, and how i like it that she later on decided to give their marriage a chance. And Morgans wonderful reaction to it left me in tears, he so much wanted her love!
Morgan is a very and VERY special hero-despite being a Temperal Alpha, he had this Golden side of him that i just found so irresistible! He sacrificed EVERYTHING for his younger brother Nathaniel ever since their mother died. He took beatings from their drunkard of a father for Nathaniel, already from a 10-years old boy he worked hard and in his early teens he became a sailor to get clothes and education for Nathaniel. I have to say that i REALLY hated Nathaniel for the hell he put Morgan through-Jeezuz after all Morgan did for him he SHOULD have worshipped him. Well in the end as Elizabeth did i did feel sorry for him, as the weak fool he is...and he did the right thing in the end. It was big of him, so i came to forgive him.
Poor Morgan despised himself for desiring his brothers bride-to be, but simply couldn`t keep away from her, and he does take the chance to marry her without a wink, which made me giggle. A very jealous and possessive hero, and OH SO madly in love with his heroine, their passion was so fiery that i thought my eyes were burning. And the angst- Oh the angst are so delicious that i totally swooned.
The epilogue are AMAZING and made me cry- Yeah i am such a sucker for Romance, and Morgan and Elizabeth were that together, ROMANTIC! This book is NOT to be missed! I love Morgan and Elizabeth (SO SO SO MUCH!) and i love their epic love-story in "Just one Kiss", after all, it was with this just one kiss that Morgan realized that he loves her...
November 20, 2018
This was a wonderful story. Heroine is abandoned by her love and she ends up marrying his older brooding brother. Their married life is filled with jealousy and suspicions especially when hero’s brother returns. I adore marriage of convenience stories. I loved the angst, the super jealous and possessive hero and the sweet innocent heroine. The epilogue was heartwarming. Safe: heroine is a virgin and hero has a mistress but he doesn’t sleep with her after Elizabeth enters his life.
December 23, 2021
Warning, you should read this book if you want to be frustrated.
The premise of this book was great, but then when the heroine met the hero she started right away to be terrible towards him.
I am sorry, but I can't rant without some spoilers. So, be forewarned.
The heroine was living and eating for free in the hero's house while she waited for his brother and treated him like dirt. I hated her for it. The hero had no obligation at all to help her and to allow her on his own home. His two only "mistakes" were to be brutally honest and to keep his promises to an extreme.
The heroine didn't judge or condemn the one that deserved but she definitely judge and hurt the hero in many many ways. For his brother she was all hugs and confort. She fed him when he was sick. She took care of him when he was hurt. She was able to forgive and forget anything he did. And she did nothing to the one that truly deserved, the hero.
Then ofc the hero started to react to the things she said and was doing, who wouldn't? And he started being also mean. We kind of know all sides so it is easier for us to see how horrible everything out of the heroine's mouth truly hurt him, but anyway she should have acted more like a lady.
The hero's brother is absolutely the worst. Oh my, I hate these types of siblings. I felt very sorry for the hero and at the same time I wanted to hit him because he takes his promise to his mother entirely too far. His brother needed a wake up call and to deal with his own mistakes by himself.
So in short we have a great hero that is misjudged by everyone but his best friend. A good for nothing horrible brother. A childish and ungrateful heroine that acts less and less of a lady. A hero that suffered entirely too much and an epilogue where the brother did not even deserve that small act on the hero's part. Just saying.
The premise of this book was great, but then when the heroine met the hero she started right away to be terrible towards him.
I am sorry, but I can't rant without some spoilers. So, be forewarned.
The heroine was living and eating for free in the hero's house while she waited for his brother and treated him like dirt. I hated her for it. The hero had no obligation at all to help her and to allow her on his own home. His two only "mistakes" were to be brutally honest and to keep his promises to an extreme.
The heroine didn't judge or condemn the one that deserved but she definitely judge and hurt the hero in many many ways. For his brother she was all hugs and confort. She fed him when he was sick. She took care of him when he was hurt. She was able to forgive and forget anything he did. And she did nothing to the one that truly deserved, the hero.
Then ofc the hero started to react to the things she said and was doing, who wouldn't? And he started being also mean. We kind of know all sides so it is easier for us to see how horrible everything out of the heroine's mouth truly hurt him, but anyway she should have acted more like a lady.
The hero's brother is absolutely the worst. Oh my, I hate these types of siblings. I felt very sorry for the hero and at the same time I wanted to hit him because he takes his promise to his mother entirely too far. His brother needed a wake up call and to deal with his own mistakes by himself.
So in short we have a great hero that is misjudged by everyone but his best friend. A good for nothing horrible brother. A childish and ungrateful heroine that acts less and less of a lady. A hero that suffered entirely too much and an epilogue where the brother did not even deserve that small act on the hero's part. Just saying.
January 26, 2021
This one was a delight to read. There was so much angst and the H was so tortured because of his tough childhood and then he met the h. I think the h gave him the love he deserved.
There was a lot of jealousy and suspicion but it was warranted because the H’s past made him that way, traumatising him and making it hard for him to trust too easily. The h was strong and brave, she really felt love for the H despite his moodiness and brooding.
I recommend this book to everyone.
Safety: h is with H only. There is one mistress the H had but he didn’t do anything with her after marriage.
Even before marriage, after he met the h, he never went to his mistress except once but they didn’t have sex on that occasion even though the H tried hard but he just couldn’t Lol.
There was a lot of jealousy and suspicion but it was warranted because the H’s past made him that way, traumatising him and making it hard for him to trust too easily. The h was strong and brave, she really felt love for the H despite his moodiness and brooding.
I recommend this book to everyone.
Safety: h is with H only. There is one mistress the H had but he didn’t do anything with her after marriage.
Even before marriage, after he met the h, he never went to his mistress except once but they didn’t have sex on that occasion even though the H tried hard but he just couldn’t Lol.
January 30, 2021
Too long but angsty enough if IO remembered correctly!
December 1, 2018
My heart broke for this H 😞 God he is been through alot but I am happy he found love and peace with the sweet and kind h , this author is definitely one of my favorite authors .
January 1, 2021
The best.... I read it so many times that my paper version is almost falling into pieces. Every time I need to dream of a REAL man, this story is my passe-partout 😊
May 13, 2022
Not my favorite by Samantha James. I found the hero unreasonable and the heroine rather whiny.
They both annoyed me.
However - I found the book mostly enjoyable regardless. The ending was just and there was a lot to like about things were wrapped up.
They both annoyed me.
However - I found the book mostly enjoyable regardless. The ending was just and there was a lot to like about things were wrapped up.
January 3, 2025
#forcedmarriage #alphamale #beautifulheroine #virginheroine #broodinghero
I love sappy loves stories where the hero is a hurting, brooding, oh-so-sexy alpha male - a bit rough around the edges - who meets a beautiful, innocent, vivacious heroine and forced to wed her.
Lots of angst - love / hate - "arrggghhh-I-wanna-throttle-you" and sexual tension in the beginning, where they comb their way to find their true feelings for each other along the way.
Lots of misunderstandings stood in the way, not to mention a bit of puzzles as to why the hero became as he was.
Very intriguing until the end.
Highly hot love scenes, too. Love this.
I love sappy loves stories where the hero is a hurting, brooding, oh-so-sexy alpha male - a bit rough around the edges - who meets a beautiful, innocent, vivacious heroine and forced to wed her.
Lots of angst - love / hate - "arrggghhh-I-wanna-throttle-you" and sexual tension in the beginning, where they comb their way to find their true feelings for each other along the way.
Lots of misunderstandings stood in the way, not to mention a bit of puzzles as to why the hero became as he was.
Very intriguing until the end.
Highly hot love scenes, too. Love this.
February 18, 2019
The epilogue was cute!
June 9, 2011
Kind of an angsty read, but not intolerable.
Hero had such a lack of trust in the heroine, I'm surprised he could even trust her to chew and swallow her food correctly. No one can be totally without trust, IMO. Though the hero has suffered several trust-inducing setbacks with family and the human race in general.
And I can see where he's coming from. Though I've never been in those shoes before.
And why should it be such a shock to our heroine that our hero is a widower? In a time where people die left and right because of The Plague (notice that this is an historically inaccurate review)... it ought not be such a shocking shock to find out that a previous wife had died. I'm sure lots of people married several times, for this reason alone. Granted, the hero didn't bother to tell the heroine that he'd been widowed... but still. I don't see why she should have taken such exception to that epiphany.
And if the hero had just come and told the heroine outright his sordid and murky past... well... then there wouldn't have been a story.
Otherwise, not a bad read. Just those miss-communications that you loathe to read/see in a plot. I loathe them, anyway. I rather like it when characters can talk and express themselves and their FEELINGS through dialogue.
This hero could have been a stone-cold marble slab for all the emotion he conveyed on the page, besides anger and distrust and miserable silence.
I'm ranting a bit.
Don't let that deter you from reading and enjoying.
Hero had such a lack of trust in the heroine, I'm surprised he could even trust her to chew and swallow her food correctly. No one can be totally without trust, IMO. Though the hero has suffered several trust-inducing setbacks with family and the human race in general.
And I can see where he's coming from. Though I've never been in those shoes before.
And why should it be such a shock to our heroine that our hero is a widower? In a time where people die left and right because of The Plague (notice that this is an historically inaccurate review)... it ought not be such a shocking shock to find out that a previous wife had died. I'm sure lots of people married several times, for this reason alone. Granted, the hero didn't bother to tell the heroine that he'd been widowed... but still. I don't see why she should have taken such exception to that epiphany.
And if the hero had just come and told the heroine outright his sordid and murky past... well... then there wouldn't have been a story.
Otherwise, not a bad read. Just those miss-communications that you loathe to read/see in a plot. I loathe them, anyway. I rather like it when characters can talk and express themselves and their FEELINGS through dialogue.
This hero could have been a stone-cold marble slab for all the emotion he conveyed on the page, besides anger and distrust and miserable silence.
I'm ranting a bit.
Don't let that deter you from reading and enjoying.
January 14, 2010
I think I would have enjoyed it more had it been the first Samantha James novel that I'd read, but having just finished Gabriel's Bride, I couldn't help but notice the bajillion similarities between the books. There were even several instances where it seemed that she'd taken phrases and just copy/pasted them into the other text.
Ahh well. It was still an enjoyable story. Thus far, I've found her books to be very similar to books written by Elizabeth Rolls, in that there's always a ton of angst caused by characters being too quick to judge and too locked into their preconceptions (and refusing to be adults and just sit down and have an actual conversation for once).
Her books do seem to contain quite a bit of dubious consent (meaning some readers might perceive one or more sexual encounters to be rape situations), so sensitive readers should keep that in mind.
Ahh well. It was still an enjoyable story. Thus far, I've found her books to be very similar to books written by Elizabeth Rolls, in that there's always a ton of angst caused by characters being too quick to judge and too locked into their preconceptions (and refusing to be adults and just sit down and have an actual conversation for once).
Her books do seem to contain quite a bit of dubious consent (meaning some readers might perceive one or more sexual encounters to be rape situations), so sensitive readers should keep that in mind.
March 10, 2012
HOW FRUSTRATING! This book drove me nuts, he was so jealous and suspicious and i found her to be silly as well. He doesn't trust any woman after his last wife bed down every other man she could find including his brother. Ok i get it you don't trust women but damn does your new wife have to pay for just about 98% of the book? There were times when he could have started to trust her and then the book could have been really sexy for sure but she did bring a lot on herself too. How many times do you get caught alone with a man that you know your husband doesn't trust? I mean stay the heck away from him! She cared too much about her husbands brother and they had a history as well so she should have known better.. good book but very irritating as well! good ss and it could have been so much better! so much better.. 3.5
November 30, 2013
This was a delightful story! I really enjoyed this Samantha James book. Sometimes her heroines can get annoying but not so Elizabeth. Based on the story, I thought she might turn that way but she didn't.
The hero, Morgan could be a jerk at times but he wasn't so terrible that he was unlikable. At times he could be sweet to Elizabeth. The time they spent at his cottage was probably the best part of the book. Morgan and Elizabeth were loving to each other. It was quite sweet.
There were some moments of angsty-goodness in this book too.
Overall a very good story. I hope the next Samantha James book I read is as enjoyable as this one.
The hero, Morgan could be a jerk at times but he wasn't so terrible that he was unlikable. At times he could be sweet to Elizabeth. The time they spent at his cottage was probably the best part of the book. Morgan and Elizabeth were loving to each other. It was quite sweet.
There were some moments of angsty-goodness in this book too.
Overall a very good story. I hope the next Samantha James book I read is as enjoyable as this one.
July 7, 2022
1. I didn't even used to like this author because I could NOT find it in myself to finish that book she wrote about the marquess who took in that chick from St.Giles. That book was not IT.
2. I generally refuse to read historical fiction set in the "Colonies". It's just not for me.
But scrap all that because this book was so fucking good??!!?! Wow. So she can write amazingly well! I'm so impressed, I'm willing to look into her backlist now.
And also all the power and money the MMC had just negated the fact that this isn't england with a titled lord haaahaha (my normal kink). So I guess my kink is just money haha
2. I generally refuse to read historical fiction set in the "Colonies". It's just not for me.
But scrap all that because this book was so fucking good??!!?! Wow. So she can write amazingly well! I'm so impressed, I'm willing to look into her backlist now.
And also all the power and money the MMC had just negated the fact that this isn't england with a titled lord haaahaha (my normal kink). So I guess my kink is just money haha
October 17, 2019
Another dumb heroine who behaves as if she deserves to be treated like queen by the hero when she doesn’t have anything, all the while throwing insults to him. Let me start from the beginning- our heroine is robbed from her inheritance by her stepmom. At this point, she leaves everything to be with hero’s Brother who proposed to her. But surprise surprise, he is a fraud. Our h, goes to Hs home asking about nathaniel(Hs Brother). When he clarified that it’s H’s home and his business, she shouts at him. Like how dare he spoil her illusion and faints. She gets sick, he takes care of her for 2 weeks( not directly by staying at her bed, you get the gist). When she finally recovers and learns the truth, she puts a token protest to go elsewhere and never asks again when hero says no. She treated him as if he wronged her. When he kisses her at a ball and some reporter notices, apparently blackmail ensues. To avoid more scandal he orders her to marry. But she was like- you forced me, I don’t want to marry you. Correct me if I’m wrong- but girl if you have problem with him, why don’t you leave his house and go elsewhere, it’s not like first time you are leaving everything behind.
Once married, our hero’s torture begins. She throws his brothers name in his face at every opportunity(who had an affair with his first Wife). Even saying as far as it’s Nathaniel I want and think. At this point, I want him to throw her out of his home. But no, he mops, but never does anything. Even after learning the truth from his Brother( who was forbidden to enter hero’s home without invitation, but he never listens. And our heroine goes to meet with this swine twice for explanations) she asks hero to forgive him, she takes his side, but she never forgives her stepmom - talk about double standards. Time and again, hero shows he hates his Brother, but she never sits and thinks why. All she does like how could he hate his own Brother. Bitch please, use your brain cells.
Once married, our hero’s torture begins. She throws his brothers name in his face at every opportunity(who had an affair with his first Wife). Even saying as far as it’s Nathaniel I want and think. At this point, I want him to throw her out of his home. But no, he mops, but never does anything. Even after learning the truth from his Brother( who was forbidden to enter hero’s home without invitation, but he never listens. And our heroine goes to meet with this swine twice for explanations) she asks hero to forgive him, she takes his side, but she never forgives her stepmom - talk about double standards. Time and again, hero shows he hates his Brother, but she never sits and thinks why. All she does like how could he hate his own Brother. Bitch please, use your brain cells.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 2, 2024DROPPED! What wasted potential!
THIS WAS PAINFUL TO READ. THE CHARACTERS WERE ALL SO SILLY AND NEVER BOTHERED TO COMMUNICATE LIKE ADULTS WITHOUT GETTING ALL RILED UP. This was the typical HR next to the Bodice Rippers genre where the characters are never level-headed, and sex seems to be the answer to everything, and yet outside the bedroom, they argue like a pack of banshees.
I was extremely disappointed in the heroine who failed to show Morgan the light of love. For a man who was betrayed by brother and wife, I assumed our 'endearing' heroine would prove to him that love, caring and a gentle touch exists. But no, she was the virginal miss who kept screaming for Morgan's brother, spurning his touch, hurling ridiculous insults and saving her own pride. I'm a woman, and I don't even want to be friends with this hysterical b*tch.
God forbid, women of her time were like this. I'd recommend picking up a STACY REID novel if you want a good historical romance that gives you butterflies.
I rest my case.
THIS WAS PAINFUL TO READ. THE CHARACTERS WERE ALL SO SILLY AND NEVER BOTHERED TO COMMUNICATE LIKE ADULTS WITHOUT GETTING ALL RILED UP. This was the typical HR next to the Bodice Rippers genre where the characters are never level-headed, and sex seems to be the answer to everything, and yet outside the bedroom, they argue like a pack of banshees.
I was extremely disappointed in the heroine who failed to show Morgan the light of love. For a man who was betrayed by brother and wife, I assumed our 'endearing' heroine would prove to him that love, caring and a gentle touch exists. But no, she was the virginal miss who kept screaming for Morgan's brother, spurning his touch, hurling ridiculous insults and saving her own pride. I'm a woman, and I don't even want to be friends with this hysterical b*tch.
God forbid, women of her time were like this. I'd recommend picking up a STACY REID novel if you want a good historical romance that gives you butterflies.
I rest my case.
November 14, 2024
2.5 Stars
This one isnt really going over well for me. The first sex scene was This girl also wouldnt cut her ML a break ever. So he was cold and off putting, why not strike up a conversation for fuck sake wtf. It wasnt until she gave him some room to breath and showed interest that he stopped being an ass. Also i dont get the infatuation with his brother its weird. FL has both men in the palm of her hand and she cant see past her own nose. So the romance is good when its on. Sex scenes great but wtf is with the abysmal communication?
This one isnt really going over well for me. The first sex scene was This girl also wouldnt cut her ML a break ever. So he was cold and off putting, why not strike up a conversation for fuck sake wtf. It wasnt until she gave him some room to breath and showed interest that he stopped being an ass. Also i dont get the infatuation with his brother its weird. FL has both men in the palm of her hand and she cant see past her own nose. So the romance is good when its on. Sex scenes great but wtf is with the abysmal communication?
September 27, 2015
Heroine was a bit TSTL. I mean, how many times does the hero have to get pissed off and raging about her seeming to be unfaithful and her being near his brother before she gets the hint that maybe she should be a bit more careful about how things look. But no, after he's they have a huge fight over her not staying away from the brother, she goes traipsing off to his brother's house. Idiot!
Hero was a bit too growly and irritable for me. Why she fell in love with such an undemonstrative grouch I can't figure. Also, kept getting thrown by how hairy these people apparently are. She dug her fingers into the black "pelt" on his chest and his fingers got tangled in the golden "fleece" between her thighs. Oh and there's a "jungle" around his spear. I kid you not. WTF?
Hero was a bit too growly and irritable for me. Why she fell in love with such an undemonstrative grouch I can't figure. Also, kept getting thrown by how hairy these people apparently are. She dug her fingers into the black "pelt" on his chest and his fingers got tangled in the golden "fleece" between her thighs. Oh and there's a "jungle" around his spear. I kid you not. WTF?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2020
I suppose I have to make allowances, since this is technically an older book - but I found it thoroughly frustrating. The character of Morgan was absolutely horrible, I actually disliked the heroine for falling in love with him at all. He explained nothing, was always cold and distant, and there were only a handful of pages where I felt he was actually a human being, and those were few and far between.
The heroine kept apologizing for everything she did, even though she was well within her right to ask questions. Even the plot felt wooden and frankly uninteresting. Overall, I would say you can skip this one.
The heroine kept apologizing for everything she did, even though she was well within her right to ask questions. Even the plot felt wooden and frankly uninteresting. Overall, I would say you can skip this one.
January 9, 2020
Elizabeth is romanced by a handsome American for several weeks. So much so that Nathaniel asks for her hand in marriage. When he returns home rather abruptly, she is unable to follow because her father has taken ill. Still, he promises to wait for her in Boston, and months later she voyages there to marry. When she arrives, she immediately finds out that the Nathaniel she knew is a scoundrel and a rake. His brother Morgan is the one who has all the accomplishments that Nathaniel boasted for himself. Though Morgan aims to at least help Elizabeth get back on her feet (albeit reluctantly), eventually Boston society discovers they’ve been living together. Talk about scandalous! Their marriage is one of convenience and neither particularly likes the other. In between bouts of despising one another, sometimes they kiss. But sometimes just one kiss is all it takes...
The heroine of this novel initially cares for the hero’s brother. And the hero has a dead wife. I don’t usually like either of these archetypes and especially not together. I kept reading regardless and it wasn’t as bad as I thought. The brother sucks and the dead wife sucks too, so it was okay.
Characters! Morgan’s the broody, silent type who’s sworn off women because he was burned. He’s also always had to get his brother out of binds since he’s the responsible one. They grew up poor and abused. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is the daughter of an Earl but surprisingly isn’t materialistic or vain. She’s very innocent, sexually, and they don’t do the Hulk-smash for weeks into their marriage (‘bout maybe a little less than halfway through the book). She’s also constantly found in compromising positions with the bad brother Nathaniel. Oopsy.
Plot was okay, though the ending ‘heroic’ scene sort of fell flat for me. Considering all the stuff that was revealed beforehand, I think the last minute redemption arc was just exasperating. Major spoiler but if you wanna understand:
While the book wasn’t bad, it also wasn’t memorable so I wouldn’t keep it on my reading shelf. These pearls are ones I’d rather lose, sorry to say.
The heroine of this novel initially cares for the hero’s brother. And the hero has a dead wife. I don’t usually like either of these archetypes and especially not together. I kept reading regardless and it wasn’t as bad as I thought. The brother sucks and the dead wife sucks too, so it was okay.
Characters! Morgan’s the broody, silent type who’s sworn off women because he was burned. He’s also always had to get his brother out of binds since he’s the responsible one. They grew up poor and abused. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is the daughter of an Earl but surprisingly isn’t materialistic or vain. She’s very innocent, sexually, and they don’t do the Hulk-smash for weeks into their marriage (‘bout maybe a little less than halfway through the book). She’s also constantly found in compromising positions with the bad brother Nathaniel. Oopsy.
Plot was okay, though the ending ‘heroic’ scene sort of fell flat for me. Considering all the stuff that was revealed beforehand, I think the last minute redemption arc was just exasperating. Major spoiler but if you wanna understand:
While the book wasn’t bad, it also wasn’t memorable so I wouldn’t keep it on my reading shelf. These pearls are ones I’d rather lose, sorry to say.
November 7, 2025
A quick, pleasant read of a girl who decides to follow an illusion, to find actual love instead..
Elizabeth's father left it up to her wicked stepmother to look after Elizabeth. To escape that, Elizabeth travels from England to Boston, as she believes a Nathaniel O'Connor is waiting for her and is to marry her.
Unbeknownst to her, Nathaniel is nothing but a wastrel. She meets his older brother, who happens to be the opposite of what Nathaniel is, Morgan. Morgan had a terrible childhood and was in charge of raising Nathaniel.
Caught amidst the gossip of the societal circles, Morgan marries Elizabeth,
I’ll save you the trouble of reading it for yourself. You see, today’s paper contains an announcement concerning my future.” He paused. “Congratulations are in order, Elizabeth. I’m soon to be wed.”
Now, this, she was more equipped to deal with. “Oh, dear,” she said cheekily. “Well, then, my condolences to your intended.”
“Ah, but there’s the thing, you see.” A smile that could only be called devilish lurked on his lips. “You, sweet”—his tone was soft—“well, you are my intended.”
I love the author's warmth in tone and emotional buildup.
However, the thing that kept this from having a higher rating was the fact that there barely were any side arcs; I was hoping for more descriptive storytelling besides the full focus on the hero and heroine's journey.. like more insights on Clarissa the stepmother, Nathaniel's doings or his redemption, the ex-mistress, Morgan's past, his father or even grand descriptions of places, estates and such... and what ever happened to her inheritance? That's it, no mention whatsoever?
I felt that with her style, these would've made the story more memorable.
I got more books however, so I hope this was just a minor temporary setback here.
Elizabeth's father left it up to her wicked stepmother to look after Elizabeth. To escape that, Elizabeth travels from England to Boston, as she believes a Nathaniel O'Connor is waiting for her and is to marry her.
Unbeknownst to her, Nathaniel is nothing but a wastrel. She meets his older brother, who happens to be the opposite of what Nathaniel is, Morgan. Morgan had a terrible childhood and was in charge of raising Nathaniel.
Caught amidst the gossip of the societal circles, Morgan marries Elizabeth,
I’ll save you the trouble of reading it for yourself. You see, today’s paper contains an announcement concerning my future.” He paused. “Congratulations are in order, Elizabeth. I’m soon to be wed.”
Now, this, she was more equipped to deal with. “Oh, dear,” she said cheekily. “Well, then, my condolences to your intended.”
“Ah, but there’s the thing, you see.” A smile that could only be called devilish lurked on his lips. “You, sweet”—his tone was soft—“well, you are my intended.”
I love the author's warmth in tone and emotional buildup.
However, the thing that kept this from having a higher rating was the fact that there barely were any side arcs; I was hoping for more descriptive storytelling besides the full focus on the hero and heroine's journey.. like more insights on Clarissa the stepmother, Nathaniel's doings or his redemption, the ex-mistress, Morgan's past, his father or even grand descriptions of places, estates and such... and what ever happened to her inheritance? That's it, no mention whatsoever?
I felt that with her style, these would've made the story more memorable.
I got more books however, so I hope this was just a minor temporary setback here.
December 31, 2022
I'm actually not sure where my copy of Just One Kiss came from. I think my mom's friend lent it to me? It's a book that is borderline Bodice Ripper, and it's the first book that I've read that breaks into that genre.
Disinherited Lady Elizabeth heads to Boston in order to meet up with her intended, Nathaniel. However when she arrives, she finds out the man who owns the mansion and shipping company is not Nathaniel, but rather his brother Morgan. When a stolen kiss is captured, and there is the potential for scandal, they marry, despite their strained relationship.
I think if you looked up the definition of angst, you'd probably see a photo of this book. There are fights, disagreements, and multiple people throwing pity parties for themselves.
I was not a fan of Morgan. Like I get it, he has trauma, and he is a product of his time... but he's just unreasonable and a jerk. And I just don't think he treats Elizabeth well. Elizabeth is naive to a fault, but she does not deserve the inherent distrust that Morgan projects on her.
I liked the plot of this story. I enjoyed the general path of their relationship, and I thought the main disagreement was unique outside of standard miscommunication [though that still played a part]
Disinherited Lady Elizabeth heads to Boston in order to meet up with her intended, Nathaniel. However when she arrives, she finds out the man who owns the mansion and shipping company is not Nathaniel, but rather his brother Morgan. When a stolen kiss is captured, and there is the potential for scandal, they marry, despite their strained relationship.
I think if you looked up the definition of angst, you'd probably see a photo of this book. There are fights, disagreements, and multiple people throwing pity parties for themselves.
I was not a fan of Morgan. Like I get it, he has trauma, and he is a product of his time... but he's just unreasonable and a jerk. And I just don't think he treats Elizabeth well. Elizabeth is naive to a fault, but she does not deserve the inherent distrust that Morgan projects on her.
I liked the plot of this story. I enjoyed the general path of their relationship, and I thought the main disagreement was unique outside of standard miscommunication [though that still played a part]
July 18, 2020
What I instantly notice about the writing is that is feels like I am reading a Judith Mcnaught book. I don't know i just suddenly felt it.
Lady Elizabeth went to America to find Nathaniel after her father passed away and left her penniless. She's planned to marry Nathaniel but because of threat of scandal she married Morgan, Nathaniel's older brother. I didn't like Elizabeth when she agreed to marry Morgan but she keeps saying that was not what she wanted, why agreed in the first place then blabbering of refusal after.
Morgan has trust issue because of his first wife, (if its a marriage of convenience they should both come clean before entering in marriage, my opinion only ) well that's what the author wants to prolong the story and to create misunderstandings, heartaches and sadness.
I like it nevertheless, excellent writing, but mundane plot, and complicated H. h is a beauty , strong willed, soft and easily duped. nothing special I think.
I will read more books from the same author definitely.
Lady Elizabeth went to America to find Nathaniel after her father passed away and left her penniless. She's planned to marry Nathaniel but because of threat of scandal she married Morgan, Nathaniel's older brother. I didn't like Elizabeth when she agreed to marry Morgan but she keeps saying that was not what she wanted, why agreed in the first place then blabbering of refusal after.
Morgan has trust issue because of his first wife, (if its a marriage of convenience they should both come clean before entering in marriage, my opinion only ) well that's what the author wants to prolong the story and to create misunderstandings, heartaches and sadness.
I like it nevertheless, excellent writing, but mundane plot, and complicated H. h is a beauty , strong willed, soft and easily duped. nothing special I think.
I will read more books from the same author definitely.
April 17, 2024
I disliked both the main characters which is a death knoll for a romance novel.
The girl just shows up to his house and is beyond rude for half the book. Either snipping him or acting like he offended her. The boy is a freaking creep. Like if you didn't know he's the H then you'd assume he was the villain for the first half. In the second half the characters improved a bit but not enough to save the story or make me care about them.
Listen, I dislike people generally, but I shouldn't dislike the main characters in my romance novels - that's supposed to be my escape from reality. They don't need to be perfect but at least tolerable.
The girl just shows up to his house and is beyond rude for half the book. Either snipping him or acting like he offended her. The boy is a freaking creep. Like if you didn't know he's the H then you'd assume he was the villain for the first half. In the second half the characters improved a bit but not enough to save the story or make me care about them.
Listen, I dislike people generally, but I shouldn't dislike the main characters in my romance novels - that's supposed to be my escape from reality. They don't need to be perfect but at least tolerable.
September 27, 2020
This is my first book by Samantha James and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I truly loved it. It felt like a mild regency romance but the character development was superb. I was so invested in the plot by halfway! The ending was exceptional and truly heart wrenching. Happy that a have a new author to explore - moving on to another of her books asap!
August 16, 2019
Bad writing, no logical progression or stream of thinking to help support the leaps... for example: in chapter 6 Elizabeth gets kissed for the first time and told by Morgan that he won’t join her in her bed...
August 17, 2024
(3.75 ดาว) เมโลดราม่าสมเป็นนิยายที่เขียนในยุค 90 พระเอกนางเอกเข้าใจผิดกันไปมา ซีนอารมณ์เยอะ มีความ angst เพราะพระเอกนางเอกไม่เข้าใจกันซะที โวะ! แต่การกระทำของตัวละครต่างก็มีเหตุผลที่เข้าใจได้ พระเอกออกแนว tortured hero ชีวิตเต็มไปด้วยความหนักหนาสาหัส อ่านแล้วเห็นใจพี่เขา
October 17, 2017
Meraviglioso.
September 1, 2019
Całkiem przyjemna lektura, szybko się czyta i jakoś nie miałam czasu się znudzić. Ot, zwykły romans historyczny na jeden dzień.
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