What do you think?
Rate this book
Grantham #3
Un beso peligroso
USA Today bestselling author Jo Goodman delivers the unforgettable story of a beautiful young woman who believes someone wants to kill her. Only one man can reveal if she's truly in peril—or if she's going mad. But will his forbidden kiss lead to a dangerous seduction?
Shy by nature, Emma Hathaway usually leaves the drama to her rebellious cousin, Marisol. But when Emma agrees to meet with her cousin's secret lover to end the affair, she is pulled into a dangerous game. Now Emma is convinced her involvement in the scandal has put her life in jeopardy. The trouble is none of Emma's confidantes believe anyone is trying to harm her. As whispers of madness begin, Emma turns to the only person who might be able to help.
The very handsome, barely respectable Restell Gardner has gained a reputation for helping people out of compromising positions. Never one to turn away a lady in need, Restell agrees to help solve the intrigue. Sensing there is more to the green-eyed beauty than meets the eye, Restell feels himself falling for Emma. But he resists succumbing to his passion...at least until he learns the truth about the danger that is haunting her. For if he gives in to temptation too soon, he could lose Emma forever.
Shy by nature, Emma Hathaway usually leaves the drama to her rebellious cousin, Marisol. But when Emma agrees to meet with her cousin's secret lover to end the affair, she is pulled into a dangerous game. Now Emma is convinced her involvement in the scandal has put her life in jeopardy. The trouble is none of Emma's confidantes believe anyone is trying to harm her. As whispers of madness begin, Emma turns to the only person who might be able to help.
The very handsome, barely respectable Restell Gardner has gained a reputation for helping people out of compromising positions. Never one to turn away a lady in need, Restell agrees to help solve the intrigue. Sensing there is more to the green-eyed beauty than meets the eye, Restell feels himself falling for Emma. But he resists succumbing to his passion...at least until he learns the truth about the danger that is haunting her. For if he gives in to temptation too soon, he could lose Emma forever.
433 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2007
61 people are currently reading
617 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
October 26, 2025
Restell Gardner is a fixer. Hiding behind the facade of an idle, roguish gentleman, he quietly performs services in return for favors. The veiled woman who has patiently waited for hours to see him isn’t certain she wants his help, but when she lifts her veil to reveal a face that has been brutally beaten he knows she needs it. Emma Hathaway has recently been kidnapped, held prisoner, beaten, and then escaped but has no memory of who took her or why, suffers from PTSD, and loses time. She thinks she’s going mad; he thinks she’s fascinating.
The characters are wonderfully detailed. The mystery is well planned and, although my initial suspicions of whodunit were proved correct, there was some doubt and unexpected surprises unearthed along the way. The romance progressed believably and with enough heat to keep me happy.
One star deducted for long-windedness. The characters talked and talked and talked. Sooner or later they got around to the point of the conversation, but not until they’d circled around it half a dozen times. The plot eventually moved from Point A to Point B to Point C, but it always took the scenic route. The author likes to dangle the reader along by tossing extraneous information at them that seems irrelevant at the time, but later shows how that information fits into the puzzle. It’s great when it clicks into place, but the wait requires patience. I normally love a careful, slow pace and time to settle into a story and know the characters, but the surfeit of words used in this book stretched my patience to the limit. This could easily have been a hundred pages shorter.
The characters are wonderfully detailed. The mystery is well planned and, although my initial suspicions of whodunit were proved correct, there was some doubt and unexpected surprises unearthed along the way. The romance progressed believably and with enough heat to keep me happy.
One star deducted for long-windedness. The characters talked and talked and talked. Sooner or later they got around to the point of the conversation, but not until they’d circled around it half a dozen times. The plot eventually moved from Point A to Point B to Point C, but it always took the scenic route. The author likes to dangle the reader along by tossing extraneous information at them that seems irrelevant at the time, but later shows how that information fits into the puzzle. It’s great when it clicks into place, but the wait requires patience. I normally love a careful, slow pace and time to settle into a story and know the characters, but the surfeit of words used in this book stretched my patience to the limit. This could easily have been a hundred pages shorter.
February 4, 2010
Jo Goodman is a well established writer of historical romance, some set in the old west and this one, If His Kiss is Wicked, set in Regency England.
First, let me remind you that authors often cannot have the title they want, because the marketing people don’t like it. My guess is that Goodman didn’t start with this title, which some will find offputting. I have read other novels she’s written, and I knew better than to judge her by title (or cover).
I have a weakness for Regency romances and a keen interest in how the time and place are portrayed. I also value writers who work to avoid the tried-and-true. Goodman knows her historical detail, and she’s not content to make due do with the standard conflicts. In many romances the range of conflict is very narrow. He’s tortured by his personal history and can’t commit; she’s secretive about her past and needs to be wooed free of her fears. The crisis very often has to do with miscommunication of an overly simplistic variety.
Goodman’s main characters aren’t having any of that. They are two interesting, sensible people who come together after she is abducted and beaten (but not raped, which would have turned this into an entirely different story). Her fears are real ones, and he takes them seriously. There is nothing coy about the way they fall in love or decide to marry. The problems all stem from the original premise — Emma was abducted and beaten, but persons unknown, for reasons unknown, and she is suffering — and will continue to suffer — post traumatic stress until they can figure out what actually happened. When this impacts on their life together, he doesn’t throw a hissy fit and retreat. He doubles down on his intent to figure out what happened.
There are lots of suspects, some of which appear to be stock-character bad-guys, but then this evolves into something else, too
Emmalyn Hathaway lost her parents at a young age and came to live with her uncle, a famous painter, and her cousin Marisol, who is very pretty and very given to indulging her whims, especially when it comes to men. In trying to help Marisol out of a bad situation, Emma is attacked, abducted, and badly beaten. Thie trauma of this has made her afraid to leave the house and worse still, she believes it was her cousin who was the target, and she is still in danger. Emmalyn goes to Restell Gardner, who comes from money but choses to live a different life as a solver of problems. An early Sherlock Holmes type, idiosyncratic but very self-aware and intuitive both. Restell isn't so sure that Emmalyn wasn't the target.
I liked this novel for its lovely twisty characterization of Emmalyn, who lives a kind of intellectual double life that is slowly revealed. The fact that the mystery sometimes overshadows the romance might be a problem for some, but it seemed to me that the narrative benefitted. Restell and Emmalyn do have a lot of chemistry and very engaging conversations (one of my favorite things in a good romance), but if you're looking for mindless entertainment, this book is not for you.
The bottom line: this is an intriguing story wound around a very satisfying romance, rather than a romance wrapped in a thin layer of mystery. A grown-up romance. A really good story, well plotted and written. Highly recommended.
First, let me remind you that authors often cannot have the title they want, because the marketing people don’t like it. My guess is that Goodman didn’t start with this title, which some will find offputting. I have read other novels she’s written, and I knew better than to judge her by title (or cover).
I have a weakness for Regency romances and a keen interest in how the time and place are portrayed. I also value writers who work to avoid the tried-and-true. Goodman knows her historical detail, and she’s not content to make due do with the standard conflicts. In many romances the range of conflict is very narrow. He’s tortured by his personal history and can’t commit; she’s secretive about her past and needs to be wooed free of her fears. The crisis very often has to do with miscommunication of an overly simplistic variety.
Goodman’s main characters aren’t having any of that. They are two interesting, sensible people who come together after she is abducted and beaten (but not raped, which would have turned this into an entirely different story). Her fears are real ones, and he takes them seriously. There is nothing coy about the way they fall in love or decide to marry. The problems all stem from the original premise — Emma was abducted and beaten, but persons unknown, for reasons unknown, and she is suffering — and will continue to suffer — post traumatic stress until they can figure out what actually happened. When this impacts on their life together, he doesn’t throw a hissy fit and retreat. He doubles down on his intent to figure out what happened.
There are lots of suspects, some of which appear to be stock-character bad-guys, but then this evolves into something else, too
Emmalyn Hathaway lost her parents at a young age and came to live with her uncle, a famous painter, and her cousin Marisol, who is very pretty and very given to indulging her whims, especially when it comes to men. In trying to help Marisol out of a bad situation, Emma is attacked, abducted, and badly beaten. Thie trauma of this has made her afraid to leave the house and worse still, she believes it was her cousin who was the target, and she is still in danger. Emmalyn goes to Restell Gardner, who comes from money but choses to live a different life as a solver of problems. An early Sherlock Holmes type, idiosyncratic but very self-aware and intuitive both. Restell isn't so sure that Emmalyn wasn't the target.
I liked this novel for its lovely twisty characterization of Emmalyn, who lives a kind of intellectual double life that is slowly revealed. The fact that the mystery sometimes overshadows the romance might be a problem for some, but it seemed to me that the narrative benefitted. Restell and Emmalyn do have a lot of chemistry and very engaging conversations (one of my favorite things in a good romance), but if you're looking for mindless entertainment, this book is not for you.
The bottom line: this is an intriguing story wound around a very satisfying romance, rather than a romance wrapped in a thin layer of mystery. A grown-up romance. A really good story, well plotted and written. Highly recommended.
March 1, 2016
I both really like this book and have ambivalent feelings about some aspects of it - but the parts I'm ambivalent about are to do with the way the book is structured, and how the author writes some elements. As a plot, as characters, it's great.
Premise: heroine Emma, while running an errand for her flighty cousin, is abducted and beaten. After she's found and returns home to the house she shares with her cousin and her cousin's artist father, everyone would like to kind of sweep this incident under the rug. Unwilling to do so, Emma recruits the aid of hero Restell, a sort of gentleman fixer/detective for hire, to figure out who abducted her and why. Etc etc love sparks and so on.
Most of this I really enjoyed - the only part of it that feels odd to me is that Goodman writes more like a mystery novelist than a romance novelist. What I mean by that is that I don't always feel that I have all the available information. I've noticed this in other Goodman novels: point-of-view characters hide/don't reveal salient details to the reader until the mystery is solved. That may be common in mysteries, but in romances, it feels a little bit like fudging, to be in someone's head for chapter after chapter, only to be told that a huge plot element was right in front of you the whole time - but of course you couldn't see it, because the character was hiding it from you. I've never really seen this in another romance writer's style, and I've seen it in several of hers. It's a little odd to me. Basically her hero/heroine characters, even when they are point-of-view characters, are not fully reliable narrators. As a reader, I prefer to read about characters who are revealing all the information to me, if not to other characters. As the main characters fall in love, I even felt that some of that information was being hidden from the reader. (I mean, it's a romance, so it's not like you're wildly surprised.) And I didn't love that: when I'm in a character's point of view, I want to feel that I really understand them as people, I don't like feeling that they're hiding things from my view or not fully reliable - I want to feel that I can extrapolate from their behavior, and here, that isn't always possible with the information you are given.
I do like very much that the main characters in this feel like actual real adults, the way they make decisions and interact is very much like the way real people do these things.
Premise: heroine Emma, while running an errand for her flighty cousin, is abducted and beaten. After she's found and returns home to the house she shares with her cousin and her cousin's artist father, everyone would like to kind of sweep this incident under the rug. Unwilling to do so, Emma recruits the aid of hero Restell, a sort of gentleman fixer/detective for hire, to figure out who abducted her and why. Etc etc love sparks and so on.
Most of this I really enjoyed - the only part of it that feels odd to me is that Goodman writes more like a mystery novelist than a romance novelist. What I mean by that is that I don't always feel that I have all the available information. I've noticed this in other Goodman novels: point-of-view characters hide/don't reveal salient details to the reader until the mystery is solved. That may be common in mysteries, but in romances, it feels a little bit like fudging, to be in someone's head for chapter after chapter, only to be told that a huge plot element was right in front of you the whole time - but of course you couldn't see it, because the character was hiding it from you. I've never really seen this in another romance writer's style, and I've seen it in several of hers. It's a little odd to me. Basically her hero/heroine characters, even when they are point-of-view characters, are not fully reliable narrators. As a reader, I prefer to read about characters who are revealing all the information to me, if not to other characters. As the main characters fall in love, I even felt that some of that information was being hidden from the reader. (I mean, it's a romance, so it's not like you're wildly surprised.) And I didn't love that: when I'm in a character's point of view, I want to feel that I really understand them as people, I don't like feeling that they're hiding things from my view or not fully reliable - I want to feel that I can extrapolate from their behavior, and here, that isn't always possible with the information you are given.
I do like very much that the main characters in this feel like actual real adults, the way they make decisions and interact is very much like the way real people do these things.
February 18, 2020
I read a lot, and tend to intersperse romance with more "serious" fiction, often reading two books simeltaneously. I read this at the same time I read "Olive Kitteridge," which won the Pulitzer Prize. In many, though not all, respects this was Olive's equal. The pacing and sense of place are flawless, the historical detail rich and accurate, and the characters are fascinating and complex. The title is so bad I have to imagine Ms. Goodman's publisher hated her, but once you get past that, this is a pretty perfect Regency romance. One note, for those looking for hot steamy sex (nothing wrong with that), this is probably not your book. The brief sex scenes are well-written and erotic, but the heart of this book is the characters' delightful relationship out of bed, and the mystery of who beat Emma and why.
September 11, 2021
My first book from Jo Goodman and I don't believe this will be my last one from her! At first, I was a bit put off by her lyrical writing (reminds me of Judith Ivory style of writing - it is not bad per se, but there were too many dialogues which I'm not particularly fond of). However, this book started to grow on me as I continue reading (I was tempted to DNF at less than 10% but I was so happy that I persevere). The book is a bit long at around 400 pages.
The mystery is intriguing. Emma was beaten and upon recovering, she sought out Renstell's assistance (who was mentioned by her physician to be a sort of P.I) to uncover the culprits. The romance isn't particularly heavy, but what's there is enough.
Emma is the sort of heroine that I'd admire. Strong and rational in the midst of adversity. I think the way the author described her reaction after the beating (PTSD) is believable. Renstell (I've never come across this name in historical romance yet!) is pretty swoon-worthy. He's the sort of guy who makes a girl feel safe without being overbearing about it. I always liked it when it's the guy who realizes his love for the girl first. This book is a slow burn though.
Overall, it was a very good read. For those who like mystery romance, I'd highly recommend this book.
The mystery is intriguing. Emma was beaten and upon recovering, she sought out Renstell's assistance (who was mentioned by her physician to be a sort of P.I) to uncover the culprits. The romance isn't particularly heavy, but what's there is enough.
Emma is the sort of heroine that I'd admire. Strong and rational in the midst of adversity. I think the way the author described her reaction after the beating (PTSD) is believable. Renstell (I've never come across this name in historical romance yet!) is pretty swoon-worthy. He's the sort of guy who makes a girl feel safe without being overbearing about it. I always liked it when it's the guy who realizes his love for the girl first. This book is a slow burn though.
Overall, it was a very good read. For those who like mystery romance, I'd highly recommend this book.
November 23, 2016
3.5/5. Beautifully written as per usual by this author with gorgeously authentic use of language. Just too much thriller for me and not enough romance, it also left me feeling rather disturbed and melancholic.
April 17, 2010
Emmalyn Hathaway(22) is living with her uncle a renowned artist and her rebellious cousin Marisol(18) in London. When Emma agrees to meet with Marisols lover and end the affair she is kidnapped and beaten. Thinking the attack was meant for her cousin, Emma hires Restell Gardner(26), a handsome man who has a reputation of aiding people in trouble. Restell offers protection and sleuthing services for a price, a favour to be returned at a later date.
I wont go into any more detail about the plot as it will only spoil it. I loved the H/H, Restell was wicked and witty and sexy and sweet. Emma was believable as the jittering nervous reclusive Heroine who is a total mess after her horrific ordeal. I love the tortured Hero story but this was a nice reversal and well done. The plot is great and the ending nicely wrapped up. Sometimes I thought JG was a bit slow getting to a point and dragged it out a bit, but it didn't stop me from enjoying this book.
I wont go into any more detail about the plot as it will only spoil it. I loved the H/H, Restell was wicked and witty and sexy and sweet. Emma was believable as the jittering nervous reclusive Heroine who is a total mess after her horrific ordeal. I love the tortured Hero story but this was a nice reversal and well done. The plot is great and the ending nicely wrapped up. Sometimes I thought JG was a bit slow getting to a point and dragged it out a bit, but it didn't stop me from enjoying this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2013
I can say without hesitation that I loved everything about this book; at least the parts the author contributed. The loathsome cover art and title notwithstanding, this romance novel is fantastic. I did not have any Jo Goodman on my original list for The Great Romance Reading Project of 2013, and as with at least a dozen or two novels I've read, I added it simply because I came across a nice, clean copy at some book sale and decided to add it. If His Kiss Is Wicked would not have made it even into my basket based on the cheesy, awful and embarrassing cover and title, but I vaguely remembered AAR saying some good things about the author Jo Goodman. When a quick search of AAR and Dear Author turned up glowing reviews, I reluctantly bought what seemed to be one of the trashier examples of romance.
Thankfully I trusted AAR and DA because I loved this book!
The principle thing that sticks out is how well-written it is. Finishing If His Kiss Is Wicked, I was inspired to create a new shelf for this novel: "Who says romance writers can't write?" Her dialogue between the hero and heroine is reason enough to read this book; it is delightful, witty and well-paced. And the hero Restell Gardner is such a great character that any conversation he has is remarkable for his wit, perception, self-control and his power to manipulate both the language and his audience. Kudos Ms. Goodman!
The heroine, Emma Hathaway, has been through an ordeal whose violence has caused her to forget what actually happened to her. She has secrets, too, which she guards from Restell, even knowing that doing so may impair his investigation, which she has retained him to undertake. I think normally Restell would have acted on his suspicians of Emma's lack of forthright-ness early on, but Restell finds himself rather taken with Emma, and her mixture of courage and vulnerability may make him less ruthless than he might otherwise have been.
I loved Restell!! He is so smart, so perceptive...kind, considerate and patient. And he needs all the above to deal with the fragile, and often prickly Emma. I loved Emma, too! She had a good heart and in no way deserved the bad things that happened to her, and her goodness kept her from realizing the betrayal sooner.
I appreciated how rationally these characters behaved, even within their damaged psyches, they were rational...and if they behaved not quite rationally, at least consistently within our understanding of their character and pressures. Jo Goodman has drawn them as three-dimensional characters, and the book feels as if we have just been dropped into their lives for a short period of time to witness their interactions.
A couple random thoughts of appreciation: I really was pleasantly surprised that Restell's family was portrayed as normal and loving. It seems that the majority of romance novels have broken or warped family settings, which is a tired cliche: "I am a rogue because my mother was a control freak and my dad a gambler" or whatnot. So it was quite refreshing, even pleasant to have Lady Gardner and her husband have a quiet love and respect, even if she wants to see all her kids married off--that doesn't make her a dragon lady. Thank you, Jo Goodman.
I appreciated that the heroine, who was in danger, always remembered she was in danger and never had a TSTL moment because the author needed to further the plot. Thank you, Jo Goodman, for being creative enough to plot a story that did not insult one's intelligence.
I appreciated that the relationship between the hero and heroine was based on respect and friendship and NOT based on sex. When there were sex scenes (and a few were smoking hot!), they developed as part of the unfolding relationship between the couple. In the last book I read, Suddenly You by Kleypas, that couple seemed to really only have sex between them. We were told that it was respect and admiration but we weren't really shown that. It was mostly about hot sex. So thank you Jo Goodman for being able to create a real friendship between the hero and heroine.
I appreciate that this was a couple who talked, who were self-aware and self-honest, even when they were confused.
I appreciate that the author went through the bother of showing us the characters of the hero and heroine instead of just telling us in summary what we are supposed to know. So instead of narration or dialogue saying that Restell was perceptive, clever, and honest, we actually see him being perceptive, clever and honest. We aren't told that Emma was loyal and kind, we see her being loyal and kind.
I could go on. As you may have guessed, this novel surprised and delighted me on many, many levels. I would recommend this book to anyone who disparages romance novels as trash. I will definitely read more Jo Goodman, even after The Great Romance Reading Project of 2013 concludes.
Thankfully I trusted AAR and DA because I loved this book!
The principle thing that sticks out is how well-written it is. Finishing If His Kiss Is Wicked, I was inspired to create a new shelf for this novel: "Who says romance writers can't write?" Her dialogue between the hero and heroine is reason enough to read this book; it is delightful, witty and well-paced. And the hero Restell Gardner is such a great character that any conversation he has is remarkable for his wit, perception, self-control and his power to manipulate both the language and his audience. Kudos Ms. Goodman!
The heroine, Emma Hathaway, has been through an ordeal whose violence has caused her to forget what actually happened to her. She has secrets, too, which she guards from Restell, even knowing that doing so may impair his investigation, which she has retained him to undertake. I think normally Restell would have acted on his suspicians of Emma's lack of forthright-ness early on, but Restell finds himself rather taken with Emma, and her mixture of courage and vulnerability may make him less ruthless than he might otherwise have been.
I loved Restell!! He is so smart, so perceptive...kind, considerate and patient. And he needs all the above to deal with the fragile, and often prickly Emma. I loved Emma, too! She had a good heart and in no way deserved the bad things that happened to her, and her goodness kept her from realizing the betrayal sooner.
I appreciated how rationally these characters behaved, even within their damaged psyches, they were rational...and if they behaved not quite rationally, at least consistently within our understanding of their character and pressures. Jo Goodman has drawn them as three-dimensional characters, and the book feels as if we have just been dropped into their lives for a short period of time to witness their interactions.
A couple random thoughts of appreciation: I really was pleasantly surprised that Restell's family was portrayed as normal and loving. It seems that the majority of romance novels have broken or warped family settings, which is a tired cliche: "I am a rogue because my mother was a control freak and my dad a gambler" or whatnot. So it was quite refreshing, even pleasant to have Lady Gardner and her husband have a quiet love and respect, even if she wants to see all her kids married off--that doesn't make her a dragon lady. Thank you, Jo Goodman.
I appreciated that the heroine, who was in danger, always remembered she was in danger and never had a TSTL moment because the author needed to further the plot. Thank you, Jo Goodman, for being creative enough to plot a story that did not insult one's intelligence.
I appreciated that the relationship between the hero and heroine was based on respect and friendship and NOT based on sex. When there were sex scenes (and a few were smoking hot!), they developed as part of the unfolding relationship between the couple. In the last book I read, Suddenly You by Kleypas, that couple seemed to really only have sex between them. We were told that it was respect and admiration but we weren't really shown that. It was mostly about hot sex. So thank you Jo Goodman for being able to create a real friendship between the hero and heroine.
I appreciate that this was a couple who talked, who were self-aware and self-honest, even when they were confused.
I appreciate that the author went through the bother of showing us the characters of the hero and heroine instead of just telling us in summary what we are supposed to know. So instead of narration or dialogue saying that Restell was perceptive, clever, and honest, we actually see him being perceptive, clever and honest. We aren't told that Emma was loyal and kind, we see her being loyal and kind.
I could go on. As you may have guessed, this novel surprised and delighted me on many, many levels. I would recommend this book to anyone who disparages romance novels as trash. I will definitely read more Jo Goodman, even after The Great Romance Reading Project of 2013 concludes.
December 18, 2020
Jo Goodman is one of those authors whose books I’ve generally liked, and I have several books from her backlist sitting in my TBR. When I saw a discussion on Twitter comparing her novels to Meredith Duran, particularly with regard to the level of angst involved, I knew immediately which author I wanted to read for this “series” TBR prompt. Goodman’s 2007 novel, If His Kiss is Wicked, comes from the Grantham series, but it reads very well as a standalone. This romance is one of those dark, dark books where the leads have to really work for their HEA, but it’s ultimately quite satisfying.
Emma Hathaway is desperate, and that leads her to Restell Gardner, an aristocratic younger son who has a discreet business making inquiries and basically fixing situations for people. And Emma’s situation is truly dire. Emma lives with her uncle, a renowned painter, and his daughter Marisol. As it turns out, Marisol had been engaged in a flirtation with a young man behind her fiancé’s back. Realizing the possible repercussions of her situation, she knows she needs to break off this relationship. To avoid suspicion, she sends Emma to a millinery shop with a note for the young man.
What happened there is anyone’s guess. A badly beaten Emma is found in a village several miles outside London with no recollection of what happened to her, and she enlists Restell’s aid. Since she was mistaken for Marisol, she fears that her cousin is still in danger so she asks Restell for protection.
The mystery that unfolds from here is dark and rather gothic. It seems everyone has hidden layers, and secrets abound. I rather liked both of the leads, so that made this an enjoyable read. Emma, as one might expect, is rather overwhelmed by what happened to her. She suffers from what might be diagnosed today as PTSD, and we see throughout the story how certain sounds trigger her. Emma herself fears she is going mad, but Restell responds with kindness, sympathy and courtesy to her, one of many things that made me like him as a hero.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/november-...
CW: discussions of physical assault,
Emma Hathaway is desperate, and that leads her to Restell Gardner, an aristocratic younger son who has a discreet business making inquiries and basically fixing situations for people. And Emma’s situation is truly dire. Emma lives with her uncle, a renowned painter, and his daughter Marisol. As it turns out, Marisol had been engaged in a flirtation with a young man behind her fiancé’s back. Realizing the possible repercussions of her situation, she knows she needs to break off this relationship. To avoid suspicion, she sends Emma to a millinery shop with a note for the young man.
What happened there is anyone’s guess. A badly beaten Emma is found in a village several miles outside London with no recollection of what happened to her, and she enlists Restell’s aid. Since she was mistaken for Marisol, she fears that her cousin is still in danger so she asks Restell for protection.
The mystery that unfolds from here is dark and rather gothic. It seems everyone has hidden layers, and secrets abound. I rather liked both of the leads, so that made this an enjoyable read. Emma, as one might expect, is rather overwhelmed by what happened to her. She suffers from what might be diagnosed today as PTSD, and we see throughout the story how certain sounds trigger her. Emma herself fears she is going mad, but Restell responds with kindness, sympathy and courtesy to her, one of many things that made me like him as a hero.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/november-...
CW: discussions of physical assault,
January 1, 2024
One of my favorite's of JGs. So I had to do a re-read.
February 2, 2012
3.5? 4? I'm not sure -- this needs to percolate a bit.
April 7, 2018
Hmmm decent but it feels different than her other books and I'm not sure how that makes me feel.
October 31, 2012
Pocas novelas románticas con intriga, pueden llegar a ser tan sugerentes como ésta que nos ocupa hoy. Si a “Un beso peligroso” se le quitaran las escenas tiernas y amorosas, podría ser considerada una novela de misterio sin ningún tipo de pudor, con un enigma digno de ser resuelto por Sherlock Holmes o el inspector Poirot. Claro que ninguno de los dos caería rendido a los pies de la señorita Emma Hathaway, y eso nos privaría de conocer a un personaje con una lengua tan traviesa (y no hay implicaciones sexuales en el comentario) como es Restell Gardner.
Quizá lo que más me ha gustado es que, a pesar de ser indudablemente del género romántico, el peso de esta novela no cae totalmente sobre el desarrollo del enamoramiento de los dos personajes, pues ésta se sustenta, en un cincuenta por ciento, o más, en el enigma que rodea el secuestro e intento de asesinato de la señorita Hathaway. Toda la trama está tan bien hilada y tan magníficamente expuesta, que página tras página las pasas sospechando de todos, y cada pequeño detalle que vas descubriendo, hace que todo lo que tenías claro en un determinado momento, pase a ser sustituido por algo completamente diferente.
¿Es Marisol tan tontita y simple como parece? ¿Es Sir Arthur tan desinteresado como hace creer? ¿Qué esconde el señor Charters, el prometido de Marisol? Y, sobre todo, ¿qué secretos esconde la señorita Emmalyn Hathaway? ¿Era realmente ella el objetivo del secuestro, o la confundieron con su prima?
Me encanta la evolución de Emma. Al principio es una mujer asustadiza, que está en estado de shock post traumático después de haber sido secuestrada y agredida violentamente; pero bajo ese manto de debilidad, sabemos que es una mujer fuerte y valiente, pues de otra manera no hubiera sido capaz de escapar por sus propios medios, y mucho menos después de la brutal paliza que recibió a manos de sus secuestradores. Y poco a poco, bajo la atenta mirada de Restell, y con su colaboración, vemos como poco a poco ella va recuperando la alegría de vivir que tenía antes del suceso.
Por otro lado, Restell es… magnífico. Su infinita paciencia, el amor que profesa por Emma y la forma en que la cuida, sin agobios ni oprimiéndola, es simplemente perfecta. Me ha enamorado, sobre todo, porque no es el típico macho que quiere mantenerla encerrada en casa mientras él resuelve el problema, si no que desde el principio acepta su colaboración sin hacer aspavientos machistas y la ayuda, con paciencia y comprensión, a superar las secuelas de la terrible experiencia vivida.
Los diálogos que mantienen cuando están relajados, coqueteando mientras bromean, son absolutamente deliciosos, y las réplicas que se dan te hacen esbozar una sonrisa tras otra.
Altamente recomendable.
Quizá lo que más me ha gustado es que, a pesar de ser indudablemente del género romántico, el peso de esta novela no cae totalmente sobre el desarrollo del enamoramiento de los dos personajes, pues ésta se sustenta, en un cincuenta por ciento, o más, en el enigma que rodea el secuestro e intento de asesinato de la señorita Hathaway. Toda la trama está tan bien hilada y tan magníficamente expuesta, que página tras página las pasas sospechando de todos, y cada pequeño detalle que vas descubriendo, hace que todo lo que tenías claro en un determinado momento, pase a ser sustituido por algo completamente diferente.
¿Es Marisol tan tontita y simple como parece? ¿Es Sir Arthur tan desinteresado como hace creer? ¿Qué esconde el señor Charters, el prometido de Marisol? Y, sobre todo, ¿qué secretos esconde la señorita Emmalyn Hathaway? ¿Era realmente ella el objetivo del secuestro, o la confundieron con su prima?
Me encanta la evolución de Emma. Al principio es una mujer asustadiza, que está en estado de shock post traumático después de haber sido secuestrada y agredida violentamente; pero bajo ese manto de debilidad, sabemos que es una mujer fuerte y valiente, pues de otra manera no hubiera sido capaz de escapar por sus propios medios, y mucho menos después de la brutal paliza que recibió a manos de sus secuestradores. Y poco a poco, bajo la atenta mirada de Restell, y con su colaboración, vemos como poco a poco ella va recuperando la alegría de vivir que tenía antes del suceso.
Por otro lado, Restell es… magnífico. Su infinita paciencia, el amor que profesa por Emma y la forma en que la cuida, sin agobios ni oprimiéndola, es simplemente perfecta. Me ha enamorado, sobre todo, porque no es el típico macho que quiere mantenerla encerrada en casa mientras él resuelve el problema, si no que desde el principio acepta su colaboración sin hacer aspavientos machistas y la ayuda, con paciencia y comprensión, a superar las secuelas de la terrible experiencia vivida.
Los diálogos que mantienen cuando están relajados, coqueteando mientras bromean, son absolutamente deliciosos, y las réplicas que se dan te hacen esbozar una sonrisa tras otra.
Altamente recomendable.
December 30, 2014
Umm....I have no idea how to review this book. On one hand, it has a pretty realistic, slow developing romance involving interesting characters, on the other hand, some times I got lost in the storytellingg and I felt there were many instances where the narrative feels disjointed.
As a mystery/crime investigation it was pretty good. It made me think and although the clues were there, they were subtle and often misleading which made it fun to guess at the truth. Restell was a pretty unique hero in HR-land, not-a-rake but a bit of a wicked man and Emma was also a very sympathetic heroine - no problems with the characters at all.
However, Jo Goodman's writing is quite lyrical and one thing I ADORED about this book was the way the love scenes were written; they were not vulgar or overembellished or simplified, they were wonderfully sweet and passionate and they made me feel damn good.
I like this and I can't really find that many faults with it, I just feel...ambiguous?
Huh.
As a mystery/crime investigation it was pretty good. It made me think and although the clues were there, they were subtle and often misleading which made it fun to guess at the truth. Restell was a pretty unique hero in HR-land, not-a-rake but a bit of a wicked man and Emma was also a very sympathetic heroine - no problems with the characters at all.
However, Jo Goodman's writing is quite lyrical and one thing I ADORED about this book was the way the love scenes were written; they were not vulgar or overembellished or simplified, they were wonderfully sweet and passionate and they made me feel damn good.
I like this and I can't really find that many faults with it, I just feel...ambiguous?
Huh.
July 13, 2012
I went into this book expecting a quick historical romance, but that's not what I got! The heroine is posing as her cousin when she is beaten and abducted, but this isn't used as a plot device to warm her up to the hero. Instead she has a real case of PTSD, and sometimes the hero aggravates it while trying to help her cope. It shows the healing process as a long road, even with help.
There was also a plot about art forgery, and an investigation into the attack on the heroine turned up quite a few suspects. While this book read slower than I had initially guessed I enjoyed it very much!
(Note: don't know about the title, the hero seemed like a solid guy but I guess "If His Kiss is Decent & Upstanding" just won't cut it for a romance novel.)
There was also a plot about art forgery, and an investigation into the attack on the heroine turned up quite a few suspects. While this book read slower than I had initially guessed I enjoyed it very much!
(Note: don't know about the title, the hero seemed like a solid guy but I guess "If His Kiss is Decent & Upstanding" just won't cut it for a romance novel.)
October 19, 2010
3.5-4.
Despite its nothing-to-do-with-the-book title and anachronistic cover (aren't we in Regency London, not the old West??), Goodman's regency is an entertaining read. The first third was a bit off-putting, because the story unfolds in primarily in dialogue, with little exposition and even less character interiority. But the wryly witty exchanges between the two protagonists kept me going, and once the two married (fairly early on for a romance novel), the narration became more balanced between dialogue/interior musings/exposition.
Despite its nothing-to-do-with-the-book title and anachronistic cover (aren't we in Regency London, not the old West??), Goodman's regency is an entertaining read. The first third was a bit off-putting, because the story unfolds in primarily in dialogue, with little exposition and even less character interiority. But the wryly witty exchanges between the two protagonists kept me going, and once the two married (fairly early on for a romance novel), the narration became more balanced between dialogue/interior musings/exposition.
July 29, 2016
The third book in the Grantham series by Jo Goodman. Emma Hathaway seeks out the services of Restell Gardner to help her find out who is trying to kill her.
I haven't read many Jo Goodman novels. They haven't appealed to me and I haven't been overly impressed with the few I've read but I was pleasantly pleased with this one. I liked the characters and the witty banter and even the plot was rather interesting to me.
I haven't read many Jo Goodman novels. They haven't appealed to me and I haven't been overly impressed with the few I've read but I was pleasantly pleased with this one. I liked the characters and the witty banter and even the plot was rather interesting to me.
March 4, 2008
Great book! Loved the heroine who had real reason for her angst and yet acted always as a mature person. And though I usually read for the heroine, the hero really sold this one for me. He's so caring - even when he has only just met the heroine - and his protectiveness never turns into "me-he-man you little woman who should do what I tell you". Instead he works with Emma to solve her situation and falls in love with her in the process. I'll be reading more Jo Goodman.
May 10, 2019
LOVED this one.
October 21, 2021
First off, I truly loved this book. Second, I truly hate the title and cover. I'm really not sure what it had to do with the story. Thank goodness I did NOT judge this book by its cover.
I knew I would love this story early on because the dialogue and atmosphere reminded me of stories by Meredith Duran and Carolyn Jewel. The dialogue was witty, romantic and at times heartbreaking throughout the story.
I also don't know how the author was so well able to balance the terrible (the story takes place after the h is horribly beaten) with the funny (the dialogue between the H, Restell, and the h, Emma, is wonderful). Not only that but there was a mystery throughout the story (who DID violently abduct Emma and why?) that kept me guessing. I am not a huge fan of mysteries though I've read quite a few. Usually the mystery overshadows the relationships or vice versa. I thought this book balanced the two very well. While the characters, especially Restell, investigate the why's, the pace is almost leisurely as he carefully pieces the parts together (after all, he comes into the investigation a few weeks after the event and the tracks have gone cold).
I also loved how the MCs communicated. We get open dialogue between them with no misunderstandings. We also get their inner thoughts and feelings to help us understand better what they are saying and why. Both characters are quite honest to each other even when it's difficult to do so.
Also, their relationship was to me, really wonderful to read. There's a part early on when the h, suffering very believable and well described PTSD, passes out and hits the floor (no delicate fainting here):
"Am I bleeding?" She turned her head so she might see the Aubusson rug.
"Do not give it a thought," Restell said. "It appears none the worse for all that you attempted to plow it with your chin."
"It is good of you to evince so much concern for my person," she said wryly.
"Yes, well, the carpet is new."
"That explains it, then."
"And this is my brother's home."
"Of course."
"My mother had a hand in choose it."
"I quite understand."
"You couldn't possibly, but it is good of you to evince so much concern for my person."
And there's the romance:
He found he was more than a little reluctant to turn her down. She was looking remarkably pretty, for one thing, and Restell knew his Achilles' heel was a pretty woman, not a beautiful one. Although he could not precisely define the difference, he knew very well that one existed. Often a woman who was pretty at the outset became beautiful in his eyes, but the reverse had never happened. Pretty denoted a liveliness of affect that he had never found in strictly beautiful women. He appreciated the turn of the head that was prompted by curiosity, not vanity. The smile might be a shade too wide and was almost always a bit crooked in its presentation, but Restell was inevitably beguiled by its inherent honestly.
It was such a smile that Emma gave him in greeting, and he had not yet recovered his footing.
I should also mention their bedroom scenes were pretty hot without being overly graphic. A little bit of Carolyn Jewel in the description.
Finally, I need to give a special shout out to Restell. I loved this man. I've never really read about an H who never raised his voice, was not violent (or at least eschewed violence himself), took such great care of his wife (often without her knowledge) and projected incredible strength. When he faces off with other men/persons, there is such a strength to his way of talking and carrying himself that they often are "beaten" into submission. He is a man who often brings some "home truths" to the people who need them. By speaking up, he gives Emma the strength to also start speaking up for herself. And who can't love a man who takes his wife with him to a gaming hell because she was curious?
I see this is the 3rd book in a series. I almost feel like reading the other 2 just to see if I can get another glimpse of Restell.
Also, very finally, how on earth do you pronounce "Restell." Is the accent on the first or second syllable? Or is it one of those mysterious British names that omits/includes letters that you can't find in the name? :)
I knew I would love this story early on because the dialogue and atmosphere reminded me of stories by Meredith Duran and Carolyn Jewel. The dialogue was witty, romantic and at times heartbreaking throughout the story.
I also don't know how the author was so well able to balance the terrible (the story takes place after the h is horribly beaten) with the funny (the dialogue between the H, Restell, and the h, Emma, is wonderful). Not only that but there was a mystery throughout the story (who DID violently abduct Emma and why?) that kept me guessing. I am not a huge fan of mysteries though I've read quite a few. Usually the mystery overshadows the relationships or vice versa. I thought this book balanced the two very well. While the characters, especially Restell, investigate the why's, the pace is almost leisurely as he carefully pieces the parts together (after all, he comes into the investigation a few weeks after the event and the tracks have gone cold).
I also loved how the MCs communicated. We get open dialogue between them with no misunderstandings. We also get their inner thoughts and feelings to help us understand better what they are saying and why. Both characters are quite honest to each other even when it's difficult to do so.
Also, their relationship was to me, really wonderful to read. There's a part early on when the h, suffering very believable and well described PTSD, passes out and hits the floor (no delicate fainting here):
"Am I bleeding?" She turned her head so she might see the Aubusson rug.
"Do not give it a thought," Restell said. "It appears none the worse for all that you attempted to plow it with your chin."
"It is good of you to evince so much concern for my person," she said wryly.
"Yes, well, the carpet is new."
"That explains it, then."
"And this is my brother's home."
"Of course."
"My mother had a hand in choose it."
"I quite understand."
"You couldn't possibly, but it is good of you to evince so much concern for my person."
And there's the romance:
He found he was more than a little reluctant to turn her down. She was looking remarkably pretty, for one thing, and Restell knew his Achilles' heel was a pretty woman, not a beautiful one. Although he could not precisely define the difference, he knew very well that one existed. Often a woman who was pretty at the outset became beautiful in his eyes, but the reverse had never happened. Pretty denoted a liveliness of affect that he had never found in strictly beautiful women. He appreciated the turn of the head that was prompted by curiosity, not vanity. The smile might be a shade too wide and was almost always a bit crooked in its presentation, but Restell was inevitably beguiled by its inherent honestly.
It was such a smile that Emma gave him in greeting, and he had not yet recovered his footing.
I should also mention their bedroom scenes were pretty hot without being overly graphic. A little bit of Carolyn Jewel in the description.
Finally, I need to give a special shout out to Restell. I loved this man. I've never really read about an H who never raised his voice, was not violent (or at least eschewed violence himself), took such great care of his wife (often without her knowledge) and projected incredible strength. When he faces off with other men/persons, there is such a strength to his way of talking and carrying himself that they often are "beaten" into submission. He is a man who often brings some "home truths" to the people who need them. By speaking up, he gives Emma the strength to also start speaking up for herself. And who can't love a man who takes his wife with him to a gaming hell because she was curious?
I see this is the 3rd book in a series. I almost feel like reading the other 2 just to see if I can get another glimpse of Restell.
Also, very finally, how on earth do you pronounce "Restell." Is the accent on the first or second syllable? Or is it one of those mysterious British names that omits/includes letters that you can't find in the name? :)
January 14, 2025
อ่านเล่มนี้มาพักใหญ่แล้วค่ะ แต่ด้วยความที่ชีวิตยุ่งบัดซบ ก็เลยไม่ได้เขียนถึงสักที เล่มนี้เป็นหนังสืออีกเล่มที่เสียงลือเสียงเล่าอ้างดังกระฉ่อนไปทั่วโลกไซ เบอร์
ซึ่งพอแม็กซ์อ่านแล้วก็คงบอกว่า "มันหนุกนะ แต่ก็ไม่น่าจะถึงขนาดที่ลืออ้างกันขนาดนั้น"
โอเค เรสเทลพระเอกน่ารักมาก ส่วนเอ็มม่าก็เป็นนางเอกแบบหายากในโลกโรแมนซ์ คือไม่โง่เกินเหตุ แต่อาจเพราะความหนาของเรื่องที่แม็กซ์รู้สึกว่ามันเกินไปหน่อย ก็เลยทำให้มีช่วงเวลาที่เบื่อและอืดไปบ้าง แต่ก็ไม่ได้ถึงกับเลวร้ายอะไร
Shy by nature, Emma Hathaway usually leaves the drama to her rebellious cousin, Marisol. But when Emma agrees to meet with her cousin's secret lover to end the affair, she is pulled into a dangerous game. Now Emma is convinced her involvementin the scandal has put her life in jeopardy. The trouble is none of Emma's confidantes believe anyone is trying to harm her. As whispers of madness begin, Emma turns to the only person who might be able to help...
The very handsome, barely respectable Restell Gardner has gained a reputation for helping people out of compromising positions. Never one to turn away a lady in need, Restell agrees to help solve the intrigue. Sensing there is more to the green-eyed beauty than meets the eye, Restell feels himself falling for Emma. But he resists succumbing to his passion... at least until he learns the truth about the danger that is haunting her. For if he gives in to temptation to soon, he could lose Emma forever...
เล่มนี้เป็นเล่มสามในชุดที่อาจจะไม่ได้ต่อเนื่องกันนัก มีแค่ตัวละครที่เคยเป็นพระเอกนางเอกในเล่มก่อนหน้ามาเดินผ่านฉากให้เห็นเล็ก น้อย เรสเทลเองก็เป็นน้องชายของพระเอกเล่มสองที่ในเล่มนั้นอายุแค่ 21 ปี และมีความพยายามจะเป็นหนุ่มเสเพล
แต่เรสเทลก็ไม่ใช่หนุ่มเสเพล เขาเติบโตขึ้นเป็น "สุภาพบุรุษผู้มีความสามารถพิเศษ" แม็กซ์ไม่ได้หมายความว่าหนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นแนวพารานอมอลหรอกนะ เพียงแต่เรสเทลเป็นอย่างลูกชายขุนนางในศตวรรษที่ 19 ที่ไม่ต้องทำงาน มีเวลาว่างมาก ก็เลยเอาเวลาไปคอยช่วยเหลือผู้คนเพื่อแลกกับ "การช่วยเหลือตอบแทน"
เรสเทลเป็นเสมือนนักสืบเอกชนในยุคปัจจุบัน เพียงแต่เขาไม่ต้องการเงิน เขาต้องการการตอบแทนในยามที่เขาอาจต้องการความช่วยเหลือบ้าง และหนึ่งใน "ลูกค้า" ของเขาก็คือ เอ็มมาลีน หญิงสาวที่ถูกลอบทำร้ายอย่างรุนแรงขนาดที่เธอจำเหตุการณ์อันรุนแรงนั้นไม่ ได้เลย
และเพื่อความสบายของชมรมผู้นิยมเยื่อบางในช่องคลอด นางเอกของเราถูกทำร้ายร่างกายภายนอกเท่านั้น ภายในยังอยู่ครบไม่บุบสลาย แค่โดนซ้อมจนหน้าบวมเท่านั้นเอง
เอ็มม่าซึ่งจำอะไรไม่ได้มาก ต้องทนอยู่กับความหวาดกลัว และนั่นทำให้เธอดิ้นรนมาพบกับเรสเทลเพื่อขอให้เขาสืบหาความจริง และคุ้มครองเธอ
และเหมือนอย่างที่นักวิจารณ์ในอินเตอร์เน็ตหลายคนพูด แม็กซ์ก็ต้องพูดซ้ำอีกรอบ ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างเอ็มม่าและเรสเทลเป็นสิ่งที่น่าอ่านที่สุดในเรื่อง
มีหนังสือไม่กี่เรื่องหรอกนะคะ ที่พระเอกและนางเอกจะเหมาะสมกันมากขนาดนี้ คำพูดไม่ใช่สิ่งจำเป็นสำหรับคนทั้งสอง และแม็กซ์หมายความอย่างนั้นจริง ๆ เรสเทลเป็นคนฉลาดพอจะรู้ว่าเกิดอะไรขึ้น โดยไม่จำเป็นต้องป่าวประกาศให้คนรู้กันทั้งเมือง
ดังนั้นปัญหาก็ย่อมเกิดขึ้นกับคนที่เดาเรื่องไม่ออก เพราะคุณอาจตกอยู่ในความมืด ตัวละครเหล่านี้จะไม่บอกคุณด้วยคำพูด แต่เป็นการกระทำ ดังนั้นแม็กซ์คงต้องบอกว่า อ่านให้ละเอียดค่ะ เพราะคุณอาจจะพลาดรายละเอียดบางอย่างที่สำคัญไปได้
เล่มนี้ถือเป็นเล่มที่ดีเล่มหนึ่งของโจ กู้ดแมน อาจจะไม่ดีเท่ากับ My Reckless Heart แต่เล่มนั้นแม็กซ์ก็ยอมรับว่าเป็นเพราะแม็กซ์ตกหลุมรักเด็กเกอร์เป็นหลัก ถ้าว่ากันตามเนื้อเรื่องแล้ว ก็ถือว่าสนุกพอกันนะคะ แม็กซ์ชอบบทสนทนา ความใส่ใจเล็กน้อยที่ตัวละครมีให้กัน
นี่เป็นหนังสือที่แม็กซ์อ่านแล้วให้ความรู้สึกเหมือนมนุษย์ที่เราเห็นกันในชีวิตประจำพูดคุยกันเลย
ชอบค่ะ แต่หนาไปหน่อย คะแนนที่ 80
ซึ่งพอแม็กซ์อ่านแล้วก็คงบอกว่า "มันหนุกนะ แต่ก็ไม่น่าจะถึงขนาดที่ลืออ้างกันขนาดนั้น"
โอเค เรสเทลพระเอกน่ารักมาก ส่วนเอ็มม่าก็เป็นนางเอกแบบหายากในโลกโรแมนซ์ คือไม่โง่เกินเหตุ แต่อาจเพราะความหนาของเรื่องที่แม็กซ์รู้สึกว่ามันเกินไปหน่อย ก็เลยทำให้มีช่วงเวลาที่เบื่อและอืดไปบ้าง แต่ก็ไม่ได้ถึงกับเลวร้ายอะไร
Shy by nature, Emma Hathaway usually leaves the drama to her rebellious cousin, Marisol. But when Emma agrees to meet with her cousin's secret lover to end the affair, she is pulled into a dangerous game. Now Emma is convinced her involvementin the scandal has put her life in jeopardy. The trouble is none of Emma's confidantes believe anyone is trying to harm her. As whispers of madness begin, Emma turns to the only person who might be able to help...
The very handsome, barely respectable Restell Gardner has gained a reputation for helping people out of compromising positions. Never one to turn away a lady in need, Restell agrees to help solve the intrigue. Sensing there is more to the green-eyed beauty than meets the eye, Restell feels himself falling for Emma. But he resists succumbing to his passion... at least until he learns the truth about the danger that is haunting her. For if he gives in to temptation to soon, he could lose Emma forever...
เล่มนี้เป็นเล่มสามในชุดที่อาจจะไม่ได้ต่อเนื่องกันนัก มีแค่ตัวละครที่เคยเป็นพระเอกนางเอกในเล่มก่อนหน้ามาเดินผ่านฉากให้เห็นเล็ก น้อย เรสเทลเองก็เป็นน้องชายของพระเอกเล่มสองที่ในเล่มนั้นอายุแค่ 21 ปี และมีความพยายามจะเป็นหนุ่มเสเพล
แต่เรสเทลก็ไม่ใช่หนุ่มเสเพล เขาเติบโตขึ้นเป็น "สุภาพบุรุษผู้มีความสามารถพิเศษ" แม็กซ์ไม่ได้หมายความว่าหนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นแนวพารานอมอลหรอกนะ เพียงแต่เรสเทลเป็นอย่างลูกชายขุนนางในศตวรรษที่ 19 ที่ไม่ต้องทำงาน มีเวลาว่างมาก ก็เลยเอาเวลาไปคอยช่วยเหลือผู้คนเพื่อแลกกับ "การช่วยเหลือตอบแทน"
เรสเทลเป็นเสมือนนักสืบเอกชนในยุคปัจจุบัน เพียงแต่เขาไม่ต้องการเงิน เขาต้องการการตอบแทนในยามที่เขาอาจต้องการความช่วยเหลือบ้าง และหนึ่งใน "ลูกค้า" ของเขาก็คือ เอ็มมาลีน หญิงสาวที่ถูกลอบทำร้ายอย่างรุนแรงขนาดที่เธอจำเหตุการณ์อันรุนแรงนั้นไม่ ได้เลย
และเพื่อความสบายของชมรมผู้นิยมเยื่อบางในช่องคลอด นางเอกของเราถูกทำร้ายร่างกายภายนอกเท่านั้น ภายในยังอยู่ครบไม่บุบสลาย แค่โดนซ้อมจนหน้าบวมเท่านั้นเอง
เอ็มม่าซึ่งจำอะไรไม่ได้มาก ต้องทนอยู่กับความหวาดกลัว และนั่นทำให้เธอดิ้นรนมาพบกับเรสเทลเพื่อขอให้เขาสืบหาความจริง และคุ้มครองเธอ
และเหมือนอย่างที่นักวิจารณ์ในอินเตอร์เน็ตหลายคนพูด แม็กซ์ก็ต้องพูดซ้ำอีกรอบ ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างเอ็มม่าและเรสเทลเป็นสิ่งที่น่าอ่านที่สุดในเรื่อง
มีหนังสือไม่กี่เรื่องหรอกนะคะ ที่พระเอกและนางเอกจะเหมาะสมกันมากขนาดนี้ คำพูดไม่ใช่สิ่งจำเป็นสำหรับคนทั้งสอง และแม็กซ์หมายความอย่างนั้นจริง ๆ เรสเทลเป็นคนฉลาดพอจะรู้ว่าเกิดอะไรขึ้น โดยไม่จำเป็นต้องป่าวประกาศให้คนรู้กันทั้งเมือง
ดังนั้นปัญหาก็ย่อมเกิดขึ้นกับคนที่เดาเรื่องไม่ออก เพราะคุณอาจตกอยู่ในความมืด ตัวละครเหล่านี้จะไม่บอกคุณด้วยคำพูด แต่เป็นการกระทำ ดังนั้นแม็กซ์คงต้องบอกว่า อ่านให้ละเอียดค่ะ เพราะคุณอาจจะพลาดรายละเอียดบางอย่างที่สำคัญไปได้
เล่มนี้ถือเป็นเล่มที่ดีเล่มหนึ่งของโจ กู้ดแมน อาจจะไม่ดีเท่ากับ My Reckless Heart แต่เล่มนั้นแม็กซ์ก็ยอมรับว่าเป็นเพราะแม็กซ์ตกหลุมรักเด็กเกอร์เป็นหลัก ถ้าว่ากันตามเนื้อเรื่องแล้ว ก็ถือว่าสนุกพอกันนะคะ แม็กซ์ชอบบทสนทนา ความใส่ใจเล็กน้อยที่ตัวละครมีให้กัน
นี่เป็นหนังสือที่แม็กซ์อ่านแล้วให้ความรู้สึกเหมือนมนุษย์ที่เราเห็นกันในชีวิตประจำพูดคุยกันเลย
ชอบค่ะ แต่หนาไปหน่อย คะแนนที่ 80
June 19, 2024
I have some mixed feelings about this book, but it is still making in onto my favourite relationships in books list.
As always Goodman does not disappoint with the incredible depth she builds in her characters. The deep understanding she has of PTSD and other mental illnesses comes through in this novel. These issues are treated with respect and a realistic, applied knowledge.
The relationship between Restell and Emma is quite beautiful. They have a deep seated respect for one another that translates into such a healthy love. Making it one of my favourite relationships.
Where I hesitate to give this full stars is in the pace of the story itself. It felt incredibly drawn out and slow. The mystery, though interesting, seemed to get lost in the everyday details. If I’m honest this book took me days longer to read then normal because I just wasn’t overly invested, I felt I couldn’t be. Now whether that’s a me problem I am still not sure.
Overall I give it 3/5 stars. Beautiful writing, beautiful characters, slow story.
As always Goodman does not disappoint with the incredible depth she builds in her characters. The deep understanding she has of PTSD and other mental illnesses comes through in this novel. These issues are treated with respect and a realistic, applied knowledge.
The relationship between Restell and Emma is quite beautiful. They have a deep seated respect for one another that translates into such a healthy love. Making it one of my favourite relationships.
Where I hesitate to give this full stars is in the pace of the story itself. It felt incredibly drawn out and slow. The mystery, though interesting, seemed to get lost in the everyday details. If I’m honest this book took me days longer to read then normal because I just wasn’t overly invested, I felt I couldn’t be. Now whether that’s a me problem I am still not sure.
Overall I give it 3/5 stars. Beautiful writing, beautiful characters, slow story.
January 4, 2016
First book finished for 2016! And of course, not surprisingly, it's a romance mystery. I wasn't attracted by the title (in fact it almost put me off) and once you read the book, you'll even wonder why that's the title in the first place.
I love that this wasn't a romance masquerading as a mystery. In fact, there was more mystery than romance. And the main characters aren't one dimensional, but fully realized and adult protagonists who deal with their problems upfront and do not go several chapters not speaking just because of a misunderstanding. What Emma went through was horrific, and the author didn't just put it aside and deal with it in just a chapter or two, but rather through the whole book.
I kept picturing Alexander Skaarsgard as the male lead, so that helped a lot when it came to the romance part. Lol.
I love that this wasn't a romance masquerading as a mystery. In fact, there was more mystery than romance. And the main characters aren't one dimensional, but fully realized and adult protagonists who deal with their problems upfront and do not go several chapters not speaking just because of a misunderstanding. What Emma went through was horrific, and the author didn't just put it aside and deal with it in just a chapter or two, but rather through the whole book.
I kept picturing Alexander Skaarsgard as the male lead, so that helped a lot when it came to the romance part. Lol.
November 24, 2020
Still hate the title and picture.
But I do love this book. I think this is the third time I've read it, so I know who is behind the abduction and all, but it's at least as satisfying watching the strands come together and not being quite as surprised at the end.
It bugs me a bit that the heroine takes so long to tell her secrets to the hero, since they are at least partially responsible for all her troubles.
Still hate the title and picture. Oh wait, I said that...
But I do love this book. I think this is the third time I've read it, so I know who is behind the abduction and all, but it's at least as satisfying watching the strands come together and not being quite as surprised at the end.
It bugs me a bit that the heroine takes so long to tell her secrets to the hero, since they are at least partially responsible for all her troubles.
Still hate the title and picture. Oh wait, I said that...
July 11, 2020
This is my first Jo Goodman and I liked it. I love historicals with a romantic suspense subplot, and I especially love it when the author keeps me guessing. I was continuously shocked and delighted by all the reveals throughout the novel - some I predicted, some I did not. I really must go through her backlist.
April 16, 2025
If His Kiss Is Wicked is another superb book in this series… equally as dark and gut wrenching. Emma’s life is in danger … she was kidnapped, brutalized and escaped. She believes someone wants to kill her so she hires Restell Gardener to solve the mystery. The story is suspenseful, full of shocking events, and plenty of plot twists right to the very end. Woven thru out is the art world, specifically painting and oil pictures .., her uncle is an artist, plus forgeries are uncovered. Definitely adds to the richness of the story.
There’s plenty of explicit sex scenes, an unusual romance, and a wonderful HEA at the very end. The author’s writing style is impressive and deftly includes the use of a wide vocabulary, for example: efficacious, insouciant, prevarication (pages 44 and 45). Overall, a gem!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There’s plenty of explicit sex scenes, an unusual romance, and a wonderful HEA at the very end. The author’s writing style is impressive and deftly includes the use of a wide vocabulary, for example: efficacious, insouciant, prevarication (pages 44 and 45). Overall, a gem!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 25, 2019
Copyright 2007. This the 3rd book in the series. Restell is Ferrin's younger brother & in Ferrin's book came across as a wastrel. In this book he's grown up a lot & is intelligent & thoughtful. Emma is an old spinster at age 26. Her parents are dead & she lives with her uncle & cousin, Marisol. Emma visits Restell one day after she's recovered from a vicious attack. They are both caught up in a mystery - who's trying to kill Emma?
This story has a Gothic feel. The romance is satisfactory, but subdued. Marisol is high strung & jealous of Emma. The story resolution is interesting & the HEA is satisfying.
One thing about Emma's original injury - it doesn't seem likely that after suffering a severe beating involving her face & head that she wouldn't have more trauma than amnesia of the event. I would expect cracked orbits & skull fractures.
Triggers - incest.
This story has a Gothic feel. The romance is satisfactory, but subdued. Marisol is high strung & jealous of Emma. The story resolution is interesting & the HEA is satisfying.
One thing about Emma's original injury - it doesn't seem likely that after suffering a severe beating involving her face & head that she wouldn't have more trauma than amnesia of the event. I would expect cracked orbits & skull fractures.
Triggers - incest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2020
I very much enjoyed the story of Emmalyn and Restell, surprisingly so given that I picked up the book on a whim. I normally enjoy Jo Goodman books so while the blurb didn't appeal to me I thought I would give it a go.
I loved the dialogue between the main characters, the whit and manner was wonderful. I confess I did divine the villan early in the story but I was disappointed with the accomplice in the tale. I thought the main character deserved a positive relationship with one of major accomplices and was sad on her behalf.
I would recommend this tale to anyone who is a Jo Goodman fan and those who enjoy regency romance with wit and a compelling story.
I loved the dialogue between the main characters, the whit and manner was wonderful. I confess I did divine the villan early in the story but I was disappointed with the accomplice in the tale. I thought the main character deserved a positive relationship with one of major accomplices and was sad on her behalf.
I would recommend this tale to anyone who is a Jo Goodman fan and those who enjoy regency romance with wit and a compelling story.
December 13, 2022
As always, with Ms. Goodman's books, this is a great story. Poor cousin Emma is sent on an errand in place of her spoiled cousin Marisol to break off the relationship with her current lover. Instead, Emma is kidnapped and beaten. Restell Gardner investigates, but Emma can't remember much of her ordeal.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this book that keep the plot interesting. Restell and Emma are a great couple, both adventurous but careful of each other. Definitely, another good read from Ms. Goodman.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this book that keep the plot interesting. Restell and Emma are a great couple, both adventurous but careful of each other. Definitely, another good read from Ms. Goodman.
October 11, 2022
Jo Goodman is a new author to me and I can't decide if I'm disappointed that I've never read her books or ecstatic to know that I've not read all her books yet! The mystery, the romance and her way with words kept me on the edge of my seat. Their story made me smile, cringe and sigh. The mystery was smooth and not confusing. The romance was not steamy but sweet and I am ok with that.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews