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Kiss of a Traitor
Wilhelmina Bellingham is an ardent Tory and has two goals in her young life—catching the rebel traitor General Francis Marion and avoiding marriage to the fool to whom she was promised when she was only a babe, a man she has never met. Her first goal is within reach, for Willa knows South Carolina’s swamps as well as any rebel, shedding her betrothed, however, is another matter. When his half-brother is killed, Captain Brendan Ford, a spy with Marion's patriots, assumes his identity as Lord Montford—and fiancé to Wilhelmina Bellingham. As his deception begins to fall apart, he convinces Willa he is a double spy, and makes a fatal decision—to romance her, capture her loyalty, and prevent her from exposing him to her father. But while he is ensuring Willa’s allegiance and love, she manages to steal his heart as well.
539 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
2 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Cat Lindler
6 books2 followersCat Lindler is a zoologist by education and a writer by inclination. She won the first writing contest she entered, in third grade in England, received a gift certificate to the village book store, and bought three novels by her favorite author of the moment: Enid Blyton. Six years ago, she took a sabbatical from her zoological work and sat down to write, not the scientific papers for which she was noted, but the fascinating world of fiction. But in all her works, her background surfaces in the form of animals with distinct personalities who play crucial roles in the story. She has won many RWA chapter contests and now turned her talents toward editing and judging as well as writing. She is always surprised by what her characters say and do, and the unexpected plot twists and turns.
An admitted animal-lover and bookaholic, Cat shares her house with three bossy felines: Bilbo, Bertie, and Eowyn, who are her harshest critics, and over 7,000 books. She imagines her epitaph as: "Felled while editing, trapped beneath a literary avalanche. She died happy and well read."
An admitted animal-lover and bookaholic, Cat shares her house with three bossy felines: Bilbo, Bertie, and Eowyn, who are her harshest critics, and over 7,000 books. She imagines her epitaph as: "Felled while editing, trapped beneath a literary avalanche. She died happy and well read."
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 5, 2014
Romance isn't my go-to genre and, well, let's just say that history has never intrigued me... I read this work at the request of a friend and found it a story that I didn't want to put down, one that left me blushing and wanting to know more about these skillyfully crafted characters.
This book actually made me forget that I hated history in school. Though there were times when I felt the historical stuff moved a little off center from the plot and were at times a little lengthy, the strength of the story and character development far outweighed those minor details.
Heroine Willa is equally charming, courageous, and willful, and our hero Ford is every woman's fantasy man: strong, sexy, stubborn, yet built with a soft spot and a desire to please...
Lindler's knack for well-built and believable characters, coupled with a solid storyline will keep me reading anything she puts out.
This book actually made me forget that I hated history in school. Though there were times when I felt the historical stuff moved a little off center from the plot and were at times a little lengthy, the strength of the story and character development far outweighed those minor details.
Heroine Willa is equally charming, courageous, and willful, and our hero Ford is every woman's fantasy man: strong, sexy, stubborn, yet built with a soft spot and a desire to please...
Lindler's knack for well-built and believable characters, coupled with a solid storyline will keep me reading anything she puts out.
January 13, 2018
A romance with a historical background. Loved the story and the notes at the end talking about some of the historical people mentioned in the book.
July 4, 2010
From http://muggle-born.net/
From the standpoint of a romance novel, I have to say that this would have earned a four out of five in my book. This book had everything I would have wanted: family interference, hard-headed heroine, an equally stubborn hero, and lots and lots of drama. Willa was a very enjoyable character to read about. Though she was devoted to her cause, I am glad that she was not too blind to see the ill actions the Tories were taking against the colonists. She persevered though the going was tough. Willa maintained to be a strong character throughout the whole book. On the other hand, I loved the character of Ford just as much. I thought he was the very stereotypical hero: stubborn, strong, ruggedly handsome, and in denial of his feelings throughout more than half of the book. Despite the cliche, he was still a great dashing hero to read about. Admittedly, he did have a few unique traits up his sleeve, like his love for playing dress-up in neon colors.
Overall, while the romance had to be predictable, I was still encouraged to read on. I was determined to see my happy ending, ready to tear my hair out from the frustrating characters, and the drama was ready to overwhelm me. I was deeply satisfied with the amount of romance in this book.
However, from the standpoint of a historical novel, I felt that the book was very poorly written. I did not think that the author fused the historical aspect with the romance very well. At times of battle during the war, it felt like I was reading a textbook instead of a novel. A lot of the times, I had to stop myself from skimming. Instead of describing what it was like in the heat of the battle for Ford, Lindler would give a short passage of how the battle played out, narrating textbook-style.
It was really disappointing. When I read historical fiction, I plan to be brought right on the battlefield, not read about it like I did from my history class in middle school. These actual figures in history failed to implement themselves into the story. Lindley failed to bring them to life in my eyes. They were only a figure that was somehow related to Captain Ford.
I would have given the historical part of the book a 2 out of 5. So overall, I rate this book 3/5. Though I was severely disappointed by how the battle scenes were written, I still enjoyed this book well enough to read it. It was a very easy read, though kind of lengthy. I would not recommend this for someone looking for historical fiction, but for someone looking for forbidden romance.
From the standpoint of a romance novel, I have to say that this would have earned a four out of five in my book. This book had everything I would have wanted: family interference, hard-headed heroine, an equally stubborn hero, and lots and lots of drama. Willa was a very enjoyable character to read about. Though she was devoted to her cause, I am glad that she was not too blind to see the ill actions the Tories were taking against the colonists. She persevered though the going was tough. Willa maintained to be a strong character throughout the whole book. On the other hand, I loved the character of Ford just as much. I thought he was the very stereotypical hero: stubborn, strong, ruggedly handsome, and in denial of his feelings throughout more than half of the book. Despite the cliche, he was still a great dashing hero to read about. Admittedly, he did have a few unique traits up his sleeve, like his love for playing dress-up in neon colors.
Overall, while the romance had to be predictable, I was still encouraged to read on. I was determined to see my happy ending, ready to tear my hair out from the frustrating characters, and the drama was ready to overwhelm me. I was deeply satisfied with the amount of romance in this book.
However, from the standpoint of a historical novel, I felt that the book was very poorly written. I did not think that the author fused the historical aspect with the romance very well. At times of battle during the war, it felt like I was reading a textbook instead of a novel. A lot of the times, I had to stop myself from skimming. Instead of describing what it was like in the heat of the battle for Ford, Lindler would give a short passage of how the battle played out, narrating textbook-style.
It was really disappointing. When I read historical fiction, I plan to be brought right on the battlefield, not read about it like I did from my history class in middle school. These actual figures in history failed to implement themselves into the story. Lindley failed to bring them to life in my eyes. They were only a figure that was somehow related to Captain Ford.
I would have given the historical part of the book a 2 out of 5. So overall, I rate this book 3/5. Though I was severely disappointed by how the battle scenes were written, I still enjoyed this book well enough to read it. It was a very easy read, though kind of lengthy. I would not recommend this for someone looking for historical fiction, but for someone looking for forbidden romance.
March 21, 2011
I enjoyed it. It was easy to read (mostly) and I liked the characters. I loved the setting (American Revolution). It's hard to find historical romances that take place during that time.
So why only 3 stars? Well, for starters it was too long (my copy is 530 pages, not 350 like it says on Goodreads). I suspect this is due to the author being unable to decide whether the book was non-fiction, historical fiction, or historical romance. Especially in the last 1/2 of the book, we are subjected to a scene with our heroine and what's going on in her life and then in the next scene we are treated to an almost textbook-like recitation of battles and troop movements, into which our hero is occasionally inserted.
Another star is lost because the hero and heroine are separated for the last 1/3 of the book (a period of nearly 3 years). And by separated I mean no contact at all. No letters or anything. Granted, part of that time the war is still going on and our hero was a soldier, but after the war is over he puts off for another year or so going back to his heroine.
Then there was a subplot that got a little ridiculously long (it was like the Energizer Bunny, it kept going and going and going). It was only somewhat intriguing and in the end, too easily resolved, especially for something that lasted nearly the entire length of the book. It was mostly definitely a subplot though as the majority of the focus was on the war.
My last little nit-pick, is that occasionally the dialogue was awkward. This wasn't frequent enough to bother me though.
Still for all those criticisms, I liked it and finished it quickly. It's not bad, just more wordy than I like.
So why only 3 stars? Well, for starters it was too long (my copy is 530 pages, not 350 like it says on Goodreads). I suspect this is due to the author being unable to decide whether the book was non-fiction, historical fiction, or historical romance. Especially in the last 1/2 of the book, we are subjected to a scene with our heroine and what's going on in her life and then in the next scene we are treated to an almost textbook-like recitation of battles and troop movements, into which our hero is occasionally inserted.
Another star is lost because the hero and heroine are separated for the last 1/3 of the book (a period of nearly 3 years). And by separated I mean no contact at all. No letters or anything. Granted, part of that time the war is still going on and our hero was a soldier, but after the war is over he puts off for another year or so going back to his heroine.
Then there was a subplot that got a little ridiculously long (it was like the Energizer Bunny, it kept going and going and going). It was only somewhat intriguing and in the end, too easily resolved, especially for something that lasted nearly the entire length of the book. It was mostly definitely a subplot though as the majority of the focus was on the war.
My last little nit-pick, is that occasionally the dialogue was awkward. This wasn't frequent enough to bother me though.
Still for all those criticisms, I liked it and finished it quickly. It's not bad, just more wordy than I like.
February 18, 2015
Couldn't put it down!!!!
From beginning to end what a page Turner!!!! Love the historical figures mixed with the fictional!!!! Also love the show of strength of the women in colonial times....and that even then women had more backbone then what was assumed to be their place and how they should act!!!!
From beginning to end what a page Turner!!!! Love the historical figures mixed with the fictional!!!! Also love the show of strength of the women in colonial times....and that even then women had more backbone then what was assumed to be their place and how they should act!!!!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews